J&K restores handicraft promotional activities to pre-Covid times; 30 exhibitions to be held across country

SRINAGAR:  Jammu and Kashmir government has gone into an overdrive to hold handicraft exhibitions across the country in a bid to push exports and make up for financial losses.

After touching an all-time low during Covid times, the government has decided to hold 30 exhibitions across the country by the end of this fiscal. 

From pashmina shawls to silken carpets and from chain stitch to paper mache, the government is going the whole hog to push Kashmir exports and make up for the financial losses suffered during the pandemic.

“We touched an all-time low of four exhibitions during Covid times. This time we have set a target of 30 exhibitions this financial year. Seventeen have already been held in different parts of the country. It includes Delhi Haat, IITF, and others. By the end of this financial year, we will hold 30 exhibitions,” Mehmood Ahmad Shah, Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, told The Kashmir Monitor.

Usually, during exhibitions, Kashmir shawls, and carpets are the major highlighters. This time, the government is focusing on creating awareness about GI-based goods to underscore the exclusivity of Kashmir products.

“Post Covid, our thrust is on the exhibitions. We have held exhibitions within the valley as well. Be it Tulip Garden, Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Boulevard et all. We are trying to showcase our products in a big way,” said Shah.

Official figures reveal that handcrafts worth Rs 375.97 crore have been exported from April- September 2022. Of which shawls and rumals worth Rs 186.45 crore were exported to different countries. It was followed by carpets with exports touching Rs 91.08 crore.  

Likewise paper mache worth Rs 3.38 crore; chain stitch, and crewel worth  Rs 65.13 crore, and wood carving worth Rs 1.75 crore were exported in the last two quarters. Other handcraft products worth Rs 28.18 crore were also exported during that period.

In 2021-22, handicrafts products worth 563.13 crore were exported to different markets. Carpets topped the list with exports touching Rs 251.06 crore. It was followed by shawls and rumals with exports touching Rs 165.98 crore. 

Likewise, paper mache worth Rs 13.25 crore, chain stitch and crewel worth  Rs 79.56 crore, and wood carving worth Rs 4.20 crore were exported in the last two quarters. Other handcraft products worth Rs 49.08 crore were also exported in the last fiscal.

Meanwhile, the stage is all set for the first-ever exhibitions in Delhi MallsExhibitions will be held in eight malls across Delhi and NCR to sell inventory and boost business-to-business the month.