Srinagar: In response to rising concerns over the sale of counterfeit Kashmiri carpets, a group of major stakeholders from Jammu & Kashmir’s handicrafts sector is set to hold a high-level press conference on Tuesday, July 22, at 2:45 PM at Hatrick Banquet & Restaurant, near Rajbagh Bridge, Srinagar.
Organisers told Ziraat Times the event, titled “Authenticity Matters: Protecting the Pride of Kashmir”, is being organised as a joint initiative by the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC), Indian Silk Export Promotion Council (ISEPC), MEERAS, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Development Organisation (KCCDO), and Kashmir Carpet Manufacturers Association (KCMA).
The press conference will address recent tourist complaints and market feedback related to the sale of counterfeit, machine-made carpets being misrepresented as original hand-knotted Kashmiri products. The issue, stakeholders say, is severely damaging the reputation of the Kashmiri carpet industry — one of the region’s most prized traditional arts and a vital economic sector for thousands of local artisans.
“The reputation of Kashmiri handmade carpets has taken a hit due to increasing incidents of counterfeit sales, especially to unsuspecting tourists,” said one organiser in a pre-event statement. “This press conference is meant to sound the alarm and bring together policymakers, exporters, manufacturers and the media to address this crisis collaboratively.”
