Srinagar, November 17: The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), in collaboration with the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), on Monday organised a workshop on “Capacity Building for Export Promotion” aimed at strengthening Jammu & Kashmir’s export ecosystem, with a particular focus on the handicraft sector.
The event, held in Srinagar, was addressed by Joint Director General of Foreign Trade Utpal Kumar Acharya, who delivered the keynote address, along with senior officials from FIEO, J&K Bank and India Post. Representatives from KCCI, including Secretary General Faiz Bakshi and Executive Committee Member Mohammad Latief Bhat, also participated alongside several exporters.
In his welcome remarks, Bakshi delivered an in-depth presentation on the historical and cultural foundations of Kashmir’s handicrafts, tracing their origins to the era of Hazrat Shah-i-Hamdan (RA). He noted that lakhs of artisans remain directly and indirectly dependent on this legacy sector, which has shaped the economic and cultural identity of the region for nearly seven centuries.
However, he expressed concern over the sharp fluctuations in export figures, noting a decline from ₹1,700 crore in 2013 to ₹563 crore in 2021–22, followed by a partial rebound and another decline to ₹733 crore in 2024–25. Citing MOSPI data, Bakshi highlighted the alarming 32.8% unemployment rate among youth aged 19–29 in J&K, stressing that instability in the handicraft sector directly affects livelihoods of artisans and weavers.
Bakshi welcomed the Union Government’s recently approved ₹25,060 crore Export Promotion Mission, hoping that its benefits would reach J&K’s artisans, particularly in remote areas. He also called for resolving frequent disruptions related to connectivity, customs, banks and other departments that impede export operations in the landlocked region.
Delivering the keynote, JDGFT Utpal Kumar Acharya outlined the mission’s key features and urged exporters to stay updated with global market trends. He encouraged them to make greater use of dedicated export portals such as Trade Connect, Indian Traders and India Trade Portal to improve market access and awareness.
Deputy Director FIEO V.K. Sabharwal provided a detailed presentation on export nuances specific to handicrafts and carpets. He advised exporters to keep their IEC codes and council registrations active and assured full departmental support for resolving issues raised during the event. He also committed to conducting more such awareness workshops in partnership with KCCI.
Senior Superintendent, India Post, Junaid Shah, informed participants that exporting through India Post could significantly reduce shipping costs compared to private airlines. He said a dedicated space at the GPO Srinagar has been earmarked for export consignments, with no upper limit on booking, including customs clearance facilities.
General Manager, J&K Bank, Nishi Kant Sharma, assured exporters that banking-related challenges will be addressed promptly. He announced that a dedicated meeting with KCCI would be held soon to streamline documentation processes and improve staffing for export services.
Exporters raised several pressing concerns, particularly difficulties linked to customs checks, banking delays, inconsistent airline operations and logistics challenges inherent to Kashmir’s landlocked geography. Exporter Mohammad Latief highlighted issues with the current capping of ROSTCL incentives at ₹438 for all shawl types, including high-value pashmina, calling for an urgent rationalisation to prevent losses to artisans and manufacturers.
KCCI Secretary General Faiz Bakshi concluded the meeting with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to DGFT officials and reaffirming KCCI’s commitment to supporting Kashmir’s export community.
