17^TH INDIA HOME FURNISHING FAIR HELD
AT OSAKA , JAPAN , FROM 23^RD TO 25^TH MAY, 2006 .

Indian Home Furnishing Fair has been recognized as an excellent interactive platform for Indian exhibitors and Japanese buyers and has proved itself as a worthy catalyst for promoting India 's stakes in the high profile and quality-conscious Japanese market. Major buyers of home furnishings look forward to visit this event for sourcing their requirements from India . This Fair is organised by ITPO alternatively at Osaka and Tokyo every year for the past 16 years. This year 17 th Indian Home Furnishing Fair was held at OSAKA from 23-25 May 2006. This event was inaugurated by Mr. Om Prakash, Consul General, Consulate General of India, Osaka . Shri B.K.Patodia, Chairman of TEXPROCIL was also one of the dignitaries present during the opening ceremony. Mr. Om Prakash, Consul General, Consulate General Of India, OSAKA has visited our participants' stalls and interacted with the participants.

This year HEPC coordinated the participation of 14 member exporters from different parts of the country mainly from, Panipat, Karur, New Delhi , Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar & Mumbai. Out of 14 participants, six participants are first time participants and rest is already doing business with the Japanese buyers . Shri V.B.S.S.Koteswara Rao, Business Promotion Officer of the Council coordinated the participation of our members exporters in this fair.

The following 14 member exporters participated in this event through the Council: -

All together there were only 27 Indian companies who participated in this fair (14 through HEPC and the rest directly) and showcased wide range of furnishings, fabrics and made-ups that are tailor-made to meet Japanese requirements in terms of quality and price competitiveness. Some of the exporters have displayed exclusive traditional items of Japanese like NOREN.

All the participants have expressed that the turnout of buyers during the fair was good, and were happy about their participation in this fair. As per the feedback given by them, 342 number of serious buyers visited our 14 stalls during the 3 day fair, and spot orders worth Rs.1.04 crores were booked, and enquires to the tune of Rs.2.11 crores, and 49 leads were reported which will mature into orders, but it is difficult to quantify such orders at this stage. On an average each participant had nearly 24 visitors, and most of them wanted to repeat their participation.

Some of the major buyers / representatives of HAGIHARA & Co. Ltd, Tokyo, LIV HEART CORP, Tokyo, K.ONISHI & Co. Ltd., Osaka, TWIN Co, ltd., Osaka and VS Tooravally & Co. Tokyo have visited the stalls of our member exporters They have expressed that craft oriented handlooms are more in demand as unique weaving patterns are not replicable in mill sector. They have also indicated that, they are looking for products in other fibers like Silks, jute, flex, hemp and its combinations, cutwork, brocades and tie and dye apart from the regular cotton ranges, which are already established in Japanese market. One of the participants from Bhubaneswar who has showcased TIE AND DYE and products of various silks attracted more number of buyers.

The overall impression about the fair is that this event provides satisfactory deals despite the fact that this fair is loosing its popularity. The size of the fair has come down to less than half comparing with the last year. Many of the regular participants have been suggesting to ITPO to merge this fair with the forthcoming Garment Fair, which is also organised by the ITPO, so as to present this show in wider platform. Since the other fairs like JAPANTEX and TOKYO INTERNATIONAL GIFTS FAIRS are being the retail fairs, our exporters have no other option except this fair in Japan . Therefore, some of the members have requested HEPC to take up this matter with ITPO for consideration.

Shri V.B.S.S.Koteswara Rao, Business Promotion Officer has met Shri OM PRAKASH, Consul General, Consulate General of India, Osaka and apprised him about the Council activities. Shri Om Prakash, Consul General provided the much useful feedback about the Japanese market. According to him the current year, the Japanese economy and Japanese market will look up for better for Indian products compared to the last year, as the Japanese customers are likely to drift away from China and look into India as a source of supply of textile items. Hence, during the current year, Indian exporters should try to tap the potential of Japanese market.

During the exhibitions and fairs held in non-English speaking countries like Japan , the organizers must provide adequate services of interpreters to facilitate the communication between buyers and sellers. Since the interpreters services were not adequate during last year fair at Tokyo , this year Council has engaged additional interpreters for our member participants in addition to the interpreter services provided by the ITPO. Hence, our members were very happy with the service provided by the HEPC as they could avail the services of interpreter all the time during the 3 days show.

Visits to some of the major departmental stores in Osaka like DIAMARU, HANKYU, FRANKFRANK, HASIN by the Business Promotion Officer, it was reported that that there were many home textile products showcased in these stores apart from the products of China and Japan. As regards the colour scheme of the textile products in the stores, Japanese have a preference for subdued / earthy colors and not so much for bright colours.

Out of 14 participants, 13 participants have expressed their willingness to repeat their participation for the next year. Therefore, Council can continue the participation in this fair and may take up the matter with ITPO to merge this fair with the GARMENT FAIR with a special focus on HOME FURNISHINGS as requested by the regular participants.