The Buyer-Seller Meet 2025 at SKICC, inaugurated by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, saw participation from over 100 sellers and buyers spanning seven countries and Indian states. This event is part of a broader strategy aimed at connecting Kashmir’s artisans with the global market. For centuries, Kashmiri craftsmanship was not merely an economic activity; it was a cultural language spoken through Pashmina shawls, hand-knotted carpets and intricately carved walnut wood. These products were once directly linked to global markets through tourism and trade. As the Chief Minister pointed out, there was a time when the Valley’s artisans did not need to participate in curated platforms—tourists would arrive, interact, and purchase directly. But conflict, disruptions in global travel, and shifts in consumer behavior have eroded those natural linkages. Buyer-Seller Meets, therefore, are not redundant commercial expos—they are critical mechanisms for re-linking fragmented value chains. By creating direct relationships between producers and global buyers, they bypass the exploitative layers of middlemen that often reduce both visibility and profit for the original creators. This renewed access to global markets can restore autonomy to artisans, many of whom are still working under informal or semi-formal conditions. While the primary objective of such meets is trade facilitation, the latent potential for tourism development is significant. Buyers visiting Kashmir for such events are not just economic actors; they become cultural ambassadors. Their interaction with local culture, cuisine, and geography has the power to create a ripple effect — encouraging leisure travelers, design researchers, and cultural enthusiasts to follow. In turn, this can rejuvenate Kashmir’s tourism economy not just through scenic attractions but as a destination for cultural tourism. Perhaps the most immediate impact of such meets lies in employment generation. With over 45 buyers from seven countries participating, and the government pledging to hold six more such events regularly, the consistent demand pipeline for local goods is set to expand. This could translate into sustained employment opportunities, especially for youth and women, many of whom possess traditional skills but lack structured exposure. Innovation, too, has a vital role. The government’s commitment to supporting design innovation centers, raw material banks, and modern production methods can help Kashmiri crafts meet contemporary standards without diluting their cultural essence. The fusion of modernity with tradition — visible in many of the exhibited items — is the direction in which the sector must move. One of the most poignant points raised by the Chief Minister was the necessity to ensure that recognition and benefits flow directly to the creators, not intermediaries or institutions that often capitalize on artisan labor without fair compensation. It must honor and reward the labor, creativity, and history embedded in every handcrafted item. For too long, artisans in Kashmir have produced world-class work only to see the branding, markup, and credit accrue elsewhere. Events like these must not only open markets but also enforce traceability and origin tagging, so that global buyers and consumers know who made the product and where it came from. This is how local economies are dignified and sustained.
Market Reconnect
