Srinagar, 19 July-In a major maintenance for the famous craft area of Kashmir, a hand-made products of ₹ 309.62 crore have been exported to various foreign destinations in the first quarter of the current financial year, which is more than ₹ 126.90 crore in the same quarter of the previous year.
According to data provided by the concerned financial institutions, exports have registered a huge jump of 243% and the highest for Q1 in the last four years.
In a press statement issued here today, a spokesperson of the handicrafts and handloom department, Kashmir said that the department is targeting overseas exports of more than Rs 1500 crore during the current FY, provided global conflicts are related. “High export of craft products for foreign destinations protects the welfare of the famous artisans and weavers of Kashmir,” he said.
Last year, craft products worth ₹ 733.59 crore were exported, which were largely affected due to various global conflicts. He said, “Kani, Sozni shawls and hand -touched carpet exports, other products exported include Crawell, Papir Mache, Chen Stitch and Wood Carving Items,” he said.
The spokesperson urged the exporters to avail the benefits of the government notified export subsidy scheme, which provides 10% incentive of the total volume of GI registered handloom/ handicraft export products to any country, with a maximum reimbursement of maximum reimbursement of up to ₹ 5.00 crore, which is in favor of registered eligible exporters with the department.
Highlighting the government’s strategy for the welfare of the artisan community, the spokesperson further said that the department has a well-established design studio and school of designs and craft development institutes at the Indian Carpet Institute of Indian Carpet Technology at Bagh-e-Al Mardan Khan. He said, “We urge business stakeholders to use these designs and packaging models so that they can add price to their products to high-end global markets.”