CAIT announces nationwide boycott of Turkish and Azerbaijani goods

Srinagar: The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), Kashmir Chapter, has endorsed the CAIT national leadership’s call to impose a nationwide boycott on goods originating from Türkiye and Azerbaijan, “following their overt diplomatic support to Pakistan in response to India’s Operation Sindoor.”

In a meeting convened in New Delhi on Friday, business leaders representing 24 states unanimously backed the boycott resolution. CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal stated, “A collective decision has been taken… The reason is clear. Türkiye and Azerbaijan openly supported Pakistan against India.”

Aligning with this national directive, the Kashmir Chapter of CAIT announces the immediate suspension of all trade-related engagements with entities based in Türkiye and Azerbaijan, a statement issued to Ziraat Times said. The body has urged  all importers, exporters and trade delegations in the Union Territory to refrain from initiating or continuing any business relations with these nations.

“We strongly condemn the diplomatic stance of Türkiye and Azerbaijan, which stands in stark opposition to India’s national interests. Indian traders will not import goods from these countries and will proactively discourage all forms of commercial or institutional collaboration,” read the official statement from CAIT Kashmir.

The boycott is expected to impact imports in the following sectors:
• Turkish goods: Apple, carpets, textiles, furniture, home décor, and confectioneries
• Azerbaijani goods: dry fruits and beverages

CAIT, which represents over 8 crore traders and 40,000 trade associations across India, has a legacy of leading impactful trade movements, including the significant boycott of Chinese goods in 2020, the statement added.

The Kashmir Chapter of CAIT will soon initiate a region-wide public awareness campaign across local markets to promote the boycott and encourage the adoption of Indian alternatives. The initiative aims to foster economic patriotism and strengthen the vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India), the statement further reads.