New Delhi, Feb 11 : Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath will inaugurate the 14th India Carpet Expo here tomorrow.

Shankersinh Vaghela, Union Minister for Textiles; G. K. Pillai, Commerce Secretary and Rita Menon, Textiles Secretary will also attend the function.

The four-day expo is being organised by the Carpet Export Promotion Council.

The expo is world acclaimed established fair on handmade carpets and other floor coverings in South East Asia, envisaging unique business oriented platform to the importers and exporters.

More than 200 exhibitors from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana will display their trend setting designs of handmade carpets and floor coverings.

It is expected that around 300 overseas buyers from USA, Germany, France and Italy will also visit the fair.

The Indian carpet industry has the potential for expansion since adequate skilled manpower and raw-material is available and, moreover, Indian carpets have tremendous flexibility and adaptability.

The total export of carpets viz., handmade woollen tufted, handmade silk, handmade staple/synthetic, cotton, rugs, druggets, and durries during the year 2007-08 was US
875.71 million dollars as compared to US 807.94 dollars in 2006-07.

The top exporting destinations are: USA, Germany, UK, Australia and France. (ANI)