Kashmir Expo connects artisans with wider markets, customers: Vikramjit Singh

Srinagar, Sep 11: Jammu and Kashmir is working to connect its artisans, self-help groups and entrepreneurs with wider domestic and international markets through exhibitions, trade promotion programmes and product-authentication initiatives, Commissioner/Secretary, Department of Industries & Commerce, Vikramjit Singh, said on Friday.
Speaking about the Kashmir Expo, Singh, said such events provide artisans, self-help groups and entrepreneurs a platform to showcase, market and sell their products while interacting directly with potential customers and understanding changing market demands.
Singh said the Jammu and Kashmir Trade Promotion Organisation (JKTPO) has been organising various programmes to create market opportunities for artisans, self-help groups and entrepreneurs across the Union Territory. “Our endeavour is to provide opportunities to artisans, self-help groups and entrepreneurs so that they can bring their products to exhibitions, showcase them to the public and market them,” he said.
He said a ‘Know Your Artisan’ campaign was organised near Polo Ground last week, while a similar programme is currently being held in Kashmir. A programme will also be organised in Jammu from September 18, providing artisans, self-help groups and startups from the Jammu region an opportunity to exhibit and sell their products.
Singh said such trade promotion programmes help artisans reach new customers and receive direct feedback on market requirements, enabling them to improve, redesign and innovate their products.
He said efforts were also being made to organise exhibitions within J&K as well as in other parts of the country, particularly at locations frequented by tourists and potential customers, to give local artisans access to larger markets.
On protecting handmade products and ensuring their authenticity, Singh said the Handicrafts Department had introduced a QR-code mechanism and secured 18 Geographical Indication (GI) tags for handicraft and handmade products, while 17 more were under process. “These efforts are aimed at protecting the unique intellectual property of our products and giving customers confidence that the handmade product they are purchasing is genuine and meets the required standards,” he said.
Singh said the capacity of testing laboratories had also been substantially enhanced, with the facilities now conducting more than 150 tests a day, compared to around 20 tests two years ago.
He said funds from the Government of India had been utilised to install machinery and deploy manpower to further strengthen the testing infrastructure.
The Commissioner/Secretary further said the department was working towards establishing a Non-Farm Producer Company for every handicraft and handmade product to facilitate access to finance, raw-material banks and better marketing opportunities.
He added that Common Facility Centres were also being established wherever required, including facilities for wool dyeing in carpet-making and machinery for woodcraft. “Our effort is to create a complete ecosystem for every product so that our artisans can grow and compete in larger markets,” Singh said. (KNO)