INDIAN HANDICRAFTS IN COLOMBIA

INDIAN HANDICRAFTS IN COLOMBIA

Expoartesanias – the massive annual Handicrafts Fair organized by Colombia - received India as the Guest Country of Honour during the celebrations of the 50 years of relations between Colombia and India. 
The Indian Pavilion, almost 500 metres in area, was manned by 35 handicraft companies with stalls filled with a variety of Indian handicrafts, fabrics, clothing, figures etc.
The wife of the President of Colombia, Mrs. Lina Uribe, inaugurated the Festival and spent two hours speaking with the exhibitors and the seven artisans who were brought by the organizers – the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts  -  to the Fair to demonstrate their art.
The Fair which opened on 7 December, 2009  and ended on 20 December, 2009, was a tremendous hit with several thousand visitors to the Indian Pavilion, making purchases as well as placing orders on the exhibitors.
The Festival was embellished by classical dance performances by the noted Bharatnatyam danseuse, Priya Venkatraman, accompanied by a group of four musicians sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, at the Corferias Auditorium.
On 10 December, a Seminar was organized by the Embassy of India along with Export Promotion Council of Handicrafts to promote handicrafts exports from India to Colombia.

Press report El Tiempo 1 (in spanish)
Press report El Tiempo 2 (in spanish)

Colombia's First Lady Mrs. Lina de Uribe lights the lamp at the Indian Pavilion
 

Ambassador of India Shri Deepak Bhojwani with Madame Bhojwani; Paola Muñoz, Director of Artesanías
de Colombia; Mrs. Amalia de Pombo, Director of Expoartesanías; Mr Rakesh Kumar, EPCH Executive
Director and the dance troop along with Indian dancer Priya Venkatraman.

Ambassador Bhojwani and the Indian artisans

Indian danseuse Priya Venkatraman and the musicians delighted the Colombian with their performances

Mrs. Lina de Uribe admired the quality of Indian handicrafts during her visit to the Indian pavilion