REPORT ON WHO S NEXT 2015, PARIS, FRANCE (23 rd to 26 th January 2015) Overview: France Market: France is the fifth largest economy in the world and the second largest in the EU, with GDP of $1.51 trillion in 2012 (constant 2000 prices). The country s well-developed infrastructure and strong services sector add strength to the economy. Until the late 1990s, France s economy had grown faster than the European average. France joined 11 other EU members to launch the euro on January 1, 1999, with euro coins and banknotes completely replacing the French franc by early 2002. France s integration with the EU has led to substantial changes in the country s economic policies. Traditionally, France had a mixed economy, but beginning of 2000, it started the process of economic liberalization. Although France is considered to have low levels of poverty and income inequality, the country suffers from relatively high levels of unemployment and high labour costs. France is among the leading industrial economies in the automotive, aerospace, and railway sectors, as well as in cosmetics, luxury goods, insurance, pharmaceuticals, telecoms, power generation, defence, agriculture and hospitality. France is also the world s leading tourist destination. France has one of the highest levels of graduates, and the highest number of science graduates per 1000 workers of any European country. France s EU membership and usage of the euro facilitate the easy movement of people, services, capital and goods. The economy has been adversely affected by the global and eurozone crises with GDP growth in 2012 being 0%. About the Fair: Who s Next 2015 held at Porte de Versailles, Paris from 23 rd January to 26 th January 2015. About 2000 exhibitors displayed their products in an area of about 38000 sqm in hall Nos. 4, 4B and 7. All of them were divided into three main categories viz. Fame, Premier and From. Besides
that Trend Forum, Conferences and Fashion show were also part of the fair, as usual. The Council organized the participation of 16 member exporters in Who s Next fair under National Handloom Development Program (NHDP). All our participants were placed in the appropriate hall 4B. Our participants displayed clothing accessories like stoles, scarves, garments and few of them displayed bags. Out of a total 65 participants from 12 countries who exhibited in this Hall, there were 42 exhibitors from India which included many reputed Indian brands. The Council s Pavilion at the fair was inaugurated by Shri Indra Mani Pandey, Dy. Chief of Mission, Indian Embassy, Paris who was accompanied by Shri Rajinder Thakur, Second Secretary, Indian Embassy, Paris. The Indian Embassy officials were accorded a formal welcome by the fair authority Ms.Chritine Basset, Manager (Commercial), and were introduced to all our participants. This time the fair authority allotted HEPC a central promotional booth at an appropriate location. In addition, as complimentary, they had fully furnished with a big size logo of the Council, poster, sofa, lockable cupboard and counter table with attendant chair. The following member exporters participated in Who s Next, 2015 January edition. Sl. Company Name and No. Place 1. S.R.Overseas, Bhagalpur, Bihar 2. Fashion Folio, 3. Kamini Krafts Mumbai, Maharashtra 4. Cosmique Global Name of the representative Mrs.Rita Jha Mr.Manjyot Singh Anand Partner Mr.Ramniklal H.Desai Mr.Vikas Manaktala Product details Scarves, Stoles Sarong & other handloom Made-ups items. Handmade Embroidered Bag Scarves, Stoles, Shawls, Pareos, Bandanas & Promotional Items, etc. Cotton Textile Bags & Accessories Allotted booth No. A21 D28 A11 A25
5. Kishorilal Shyamsunder Kolkata, West Bengal 6. Old Village Overseas Partner Mr.Durganand Thakur Senior Manager Sales Mr. Parmindar Singh Gulati Scarf & Stoles Scarves, Shawls & Stoles E21 C29 7. Tal, 8. Bhutti Weavers Cooperative Society Kullu,Himachal Pradesh 9. Nikhil Enterprises 10. Promila Emporium, 11. D.R.International Delhi 12. Indkraft Exports, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh 13. Jain Shawls, Ludhiana 14. Arn-N-Ita Handloom Export Co., Kolkata 15. Deepak Mfg. Co. Delhi 16. Nivedita-Swarup 17. The Handloom Export Promotion Council, Chennai Mr.Uday Kumar Mr.Ramesh K.Thakur General Manager Mr.Surinder Madan Mr.Suresh Chand Gupta Mr.Gaurav Goel, CEO Mr.Samir Jain Partner Mr.Arun Jain Partner Mr.Arnab Roy Mr.Deepak Jain Mr.Swarup Mukherjee Head Marketing Mr.Anil Raj Kumar Executive Director Shawls, Scarves Handloom Shawls, Stoles, Mufflers, Ponchoos Socks, Caps, Tweeds, Bags etc. Handloom Shawls, Scarfs etc., Textiles Based Made-ups Embroidered Scarves & Bags Handbags Scarves Scarves, Stoles Scarves, Stoles, Fabrics Scarves, Jewellery Scarves, Stoles, Shawls, Fabric Trade Promotion E24 E26 C27 E27 A17 B27 A27 A12 B29 E23 D01 Other activities:
Shri Gagan Rai, Chairman, Handloom Export Promotion Council visited the fair on 24.1.15 and interacted with all Indian participants and motivated non-members to get enrolled with HEPC and take part in India International Handwoven Fair (11 th to13 th March 2015) at Chennai. Council member participants represented to Chairman to raise the issue of separate hall (4B) provided to all Indian participants, thereby detaching them from major fair participants viz. Premier and Fame. Chairman also discussed the matter with Fair authority, who clarified that the hall allotment was made properly and all manufacturer exporters were suitably placed under the pavilion From for easy identification. Mr. Raj Anand, Indian Representative, Maison & Objet met Chairman and requested the visit of Chairman to the Maison & Objet fair to meet the organisers with whom an appointment was arranged. Later, Chairman visited Maison & Objet Fair and met Ms.Stephanie Crouchet, Sr. International Sales Executive and discussed HEPC s participation in the forth coming September 2015 edition. The fair authorities want the design of HEPC stalls and product profile by middle of April 2015 to consider the same. The fair is huge in size spread over five major halls. Chairman visited the Textiles & Handicrafts section of the fair, i.e.hall-1. Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts set up a Theme-cum- Promotional booth in a 48 sqm area. There were many Indian participants with different range of products such as Floor coverings, made ups, stoles, scarves, etc. Support of Indian Embassy, France: Shri Anshuman Gaur, Counsellor (Economic & Commerce), Indian Embassy, Paris made an exclusive presentation on 25 th January 2015 to Indian participants on EU Norms / Regulations and the new trends and distributed flash drives containing the presentation material. Accordingly, Europe is slowly making a comeback, as per Eurostat 2014:
Figure 5: Consumer confidence indicator EU27, 2012-2014 Leading EU/EFTA exporters of home textiles, value in billion 0 O N D Ja Fe M A M Ju Ju A Se O N D Ja Fe M ct/ ov ec n/ b/ ar/ pr ay n/ l/1 ug p/ ct/ ov ec n/ b/ ar/ -5 12 /1 /1 13 13 13 /1 /1 13 3 /1 13 13 /1 /1 14 14 14 2 2 3 3 3 3 3-10 -15-20 -25 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 Germany Belgium Netherlan ds Italy -30 500 France The European Commission's consumer confidence index - EU-27 0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 The European Commission's consumer confidence index - Eurozone Source: Eurostat (2014) EU/EFTA exports per subsector, value in million GDP and new housing, % change on previous year 5 Cushion covers 4 % Curtains 6 % Bath & kitchenlin en 7 % Sleepwar e 7 % Bedlinen 14 % Other 7 % Oilcloth 21 % Carpets 34 % 0-5 -10-15 -20-25 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 GDP New hous ing Source: Eurostat (2014) Source: Eurostat (2014), Bundesverband Baustoffe (2013) The European home textiles market suffered greatly from the economic crisis. The home textiles sector is closely linked to economic conditions: as soon as incomes decline, consumers start cutting back expenditure on non essential products,
including decorative textiles. Product replacements have been postponed. Important sectors influencing European demand for home textiles, such as the construction and hotel sectors, have suffered from the economic crisis as well, making the market fragile. The Counsellor requested all the participants to write to the Consulate for any guidance/suggestion. He also wanted them to visit the Embassy website regularly for latest trends and market status. On behalf of Council, the official on deputation thanked the Indian Embassy for their valuable support in sharing trade information. Conclusion: The latest (April-December 2014) statistical data of DGCI&S, Kolkata shows an increase of 5.12% over the previous year export of overall handloom products to France. The export of fashion accessories viz. stoles & scarves alone has increased more than 60% over the previous corresponding period. Further, the outcome of the fair participation has been very encouraging supported by spot orders worth of USD 3.85 lakh and enquiries worth of USD 2.88 lakh from 245 business visitors as reported by our 16 participants in their feedback to us. On request of Indian participants to the Counsellor, Indian Embassy arranged a national flag for celebration of Republic day on 26 th January 2015. All Indian participants gathered at HEPC s booth and hoisted Indian National Flag and sang national anthem on 26.1.2015.
Few photographs taken during Who s Next (Winter) 2015 fair. Inauguration of Council s stall by Shri.Indra Mani Pandey, Dy. Chief of Mission, Indian Embassy, Paris. Interaction of Shri.Indra Mani Pandey, Dy. Chief and Shri Rajinder Thakur, Second Secretary of Indian Mission with Council s participant Shri.Indra Mani Pandey, Dy. Chief and Shri Rajinder Thakur, Second Secretary of Indian Mission with Council representative at Council Stall. Interaction of Shri.Gagan Rai, Chairman, HEPC with Council s participants
Interaction of Shri.Anshuman Gaur, Counsellor, Indian Embassy with Council s participants
Republic Day celebration at Council s stall with participants and fair organisers. The fair has been coordinated by Shri R.P.Rajalingam, Export Promotion Officer. The next edition of Who s Next (Summer) is to be held from 4 th to 7 th September 2015.