Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday promised to recommend a decrease in goods and services on handicrafts and handloom products to help promote the region in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing FTII: Traders Conclave – 2025 In Srinagar, the Union Minister said, “The issue of GST on handicrafts and handloom was brought to my attention by two or three system delegations. I have suggested that they can submit an application about this matter and also what they can do. Will try to move forward.
Goyal said, “One of the topics raised required packaging units, where new designs and technologies could be better offered to promote local products such as handicrafts, gardening items, Pashmina shawls and handlooms.”
The Union Minister said that Jammu and Kashmir will soon get the center of excellence for packaging and design.
He said, “I have instructed the authorities to start a project focused on quality packaging and design to find out the possibilities in collaboration with the Indian Packaging Institute of Packaging. They have been requested to identify a suitable location, where the initiative can be started as soon as possible,” he said.
In addition, Union Minster Goyal said that delegates have focused on encouraging storage technology, cold chain infrastructure, and startups and new talent.
“The purpose is to support those to offer assistance through innovation and research from traditional trades to entrepreneurship.
Goyal also assured that he would discuss with NTPC and Solar Energy Corporation to help producers to export their products as a green product to get a higher price to their products to establish a solar lighting or power generation facility in the area.
Goyal also assured that he would discuss with the public sector energy unit NTPC and Solar Energy Corporation for the establishment of a solar lighting system or power generation facility in the region. The objective of this initiative is to support local producers to export their goods as green products, making them capable of getting better prices in international markets.
Separately, in an X post, Goyal said that a detailed discussion was held with the MSME Development Forum, Jammu and Kashmir about various suggestions to promote local enterprises.
During this time, measures were discussed to increase the competition of MSME, improve ease of trade and connect them to the national supply chain.
The minister said that he had also met with a delegation from the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry and discussed empowering local industries, accelerating economic growth and creating a favorable environment for business.
Goyal also met with representatives of Jammu and Kashmir fruits and vegetation processing and integrated Cold Chen Association (JKPICA) in Srinagar.
“During this time, strategies were discussed to maintain industrial development in cold chains and agricultural-processing sectors, which are extremely important for strengthening J&K agricultural economy and promoting exports,” Goyal’s X post read. (AI)
