Last Updated on December 23, 2021 at 2:51 pm
Being more labour intensive than capital intensive and eco-friendly, Kashmir’s handicrafts are best suited for the people of Kashmir. But Kashmir’s handicraft exports are facing a dip and causing a big loss to the exporters. Since past few years handicrafts business in Kashmir are facing a decline of around 44 percent.
As per reports, in 2020-21 the export figures have come down to Rs 635 crore. Due to the continuous slump in the business industry is majorly affecting the export of handicraft industry. Moreover, decline has been recorded year after year. After scrutinizing the figures lowest exports were recorded in the financial year 2020-21.
During 2020-21, handicraft items such as carpets of Rs 299.56 crore, Shawl Rs 172.52 crore, paper mache Rs 13.27 crore, C.stich, crewel Rs 140 crore, wood carving Rs 7.22 crore and other items Rs 2.44 crore were exported as per Greater Kashmir.
The handicrafts industry has made a massive contribution for Jammu and Kashmir’s economy as well as nation. The artisans and their artistic imagination have attracted many buyers for the handicrafts. But in last few years due to the abrogation of article 370 and further lockdowns due to the ongoing pandemic has majorly hit the industry.
President, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Sheikh Ashiq said that major losses have been suffered by the exporters of Kashmir and pandemic led to worst hit for them. He further said that KCCI in collaboration with FEIO is organizing various programmes to make districts as export hubs and aims to increase export figures to Rs 1000 crore by next year.
President, Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kashmir (CCIK), Tariq Rashid Ghani said that after 2019 and lockdowns they have suffered major problems and many of the exporters have closed their business thus incurring huge losses for economy.
A senior official informed that the government has announced the operational guidelines to avail the Export subsidy after the same was cleared by the Administrative council recently.
The main objective of the Export subsidy is to provide promotional measures to give an increase to the Handicrafts and Handloom exports from the UT.
