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EPCH to tie up with US firms for Rs 400 cr mart
PTI - New Delhi

The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) is in talks with leading American companies who have expertise in trade marts for managerial tie-ups in its Rs 400 crore state-of-the-art exposition mart being set up in Greater Noida.

“We are in advanced stage of talks with leading firms in America for managerial tie-ups in our mart, the first phase of which is expected to become operational by December next year,” Mr Rakesh Kumar, managing director of the exposition mart, said. He said the council had already generated Rs 35 crore from the trade and was also in talks with banks, including SIDBI, for raising another Rs 35 crore. Cost of the first phase of the project is estimated to be around Rs 172 crore, he said adding that a Special Purpose Vehicle company under the title ‘India Exposition Mart Ltd’ has been set up for the speedy execution of the project.

The master plan of the mart provides 20,00,000 lakh sq ft which includes exhibition halls, exposition mart, restaurants, conference centre and other facilities.

The mart, conceived on the lines of similar marts in the US, Europe and China, is a joint initiative of the government of India, the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority and leading exporters.