Dr. Rakesh Kumar is Chairman of India Exposition Mart Limited (IEML), popularly known as India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, and Director General in the role of Chief Mentor at the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).

His professional journey in handicraft export promotion began with EPCH in 1986. He helped establish the Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair in 1994 and played a central role in taking India Expo Centre & Mart from concept to commissioning. Inaugurated in 2006, the venue brought permanent sourcing facilities and exhibition infrastructure together for Indian exporters and international buyers.

His institutional work includes contributions to the Handicrafts & Carpet Sector Skill Council, the National Centre for Design & Product Development, the Buying Agents Association of India, and the VRIKSH timber legality and traceability initiative. His wider work includes leadership responsibilities in Expo Digital India and Bharat Tex, the development of the UP International Trade Show, and Expo Bazaar’s international market-access infrastructure.

His recognitions include an honorary doctorate conferred at Teerthanker Mahaveer University in March 2023 and the Prerna Strot Award presented by the Government of Himachal Pradesh in August 2024. Anuj Sharma’s 2021 academic case study, “Collective ownership: an Expo Mart for the exporter by the exporter”, examines the stakeholder collaboration and leadership behind the Expo Mart project.