Srinagar, Feb 3: Sameer Ahmad Jan, 31, worked for nearly six years in a private company in Bangkok.
A techie by profession, he found a huge demand for shawls, carpets, and wooden items in the country.
A resident of Srinagar’s old city, he quit his job and launched his venture of Kashmiri handicrafts in Bangkok. “The demand for shawls, carpets, rugs, and wooden articles has shot up across the world. My showroom, which employs eight people, deals with the sales of Kashmir handicrafts. I get a good number of customers from Europe who visit Bangkok for tourism,” he said.
Like Jan, a growing number of educated youth in Kashmir are embracing the region’s rich handicraft heritage, using their skills and modern business acumen to launch global ventures.
This surge in handicraft business overseas is primarily due to the granting of GI tag to various handicrafts by the union government. From intricately woven Pashmina shawls to delicately carved wooden furniture, the demand for authentic Kashmiri crafts is skyrocketing.
Kashmiri handicraft ventures have also come up in several countries including Singapore, UAE, Oman, and other Middle East.
“The GI tag shot up the demand for Kashmir handicrafts. In the Middle East, people like carpets and rugs. Kashmiri carpets and rugs can be seen bedecking hotels and restaurants in Dubai. It has given stiff competition to the Iranian carpet, which is also the most sought handicraft item in the international market,” said Fahad Ahmad Bhat, a Kashmir handicrafts outlet owner in UAE.
Pertinently, the total export value of Kashmiri crafts in four years has reached Rs 3,477.31 crore. In 2020-21, the total exports of Kashmiri crafts were valued at Rs 635.52 crore.
The following years including 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24 recorded Rs 563.13 crore, Rs 1116.37 crore, and Rs 1162.29 crore, respectively.
An official from the handicraft department said the demand for handicrafts has surged across the world which has brought up exports from Jammu and Kashmir.
“We have witnessed a surge in the registration of artisans and exporters over the years. GI tag brought desired results in the handicrafts sector, which inspired locals to invest in the sector. The government has already set a target to increase Jammu and Kashmir handicrafts exports to Rs 3,000 crore annually in the next five years,” he said.
Media: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia1.tenor.co%2Fm%2FPwPVGRCEEJ0AAAAd%2Fwell-done-well-done-team.gif%3Fc%3DVjFfZmFjZWJvb2tfd2ViY29tbWVudHM&h=AT2N9FzpN4zv9l-6IfvhCeLravX6aWzNAlgjxyYzAeJEULKuBB20PXMKjK6DH6re_dHEDzjlOneeWfi8hrIxnV2ZLxUulcx3YgrJH97bC2_H3E9ZNXDUhXFDdjm3-oaaYSbrbMmretU-3Ehy&s=1