Examiner News Desk | Srinagar:
In a significant policy push aimed at boosting Jammu and Kashmir’s handicrafts and textile exports, the Ministry of Textiles has designated Srinagar as a “Champion District”, while Budgam and Baramulla have been identified as Aspirational Districts under India’s broader goal of achieving USD 100 billion in textile exports by 2030.
The announcement was made during a two-day consultative workshop titled “Textiles for Global Markets: Strategy for Achieving USD 100 Billion Exports by 2030”, held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), Srinagar. The event was organised by the Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir, in collaboration with the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
The workshop brought together senior policymakers, exporters, industry leaders, artisans, entrepreneurs, Export Promotion Councils, DGFT representatives and other stakeholders to develop strategies for strengthening value chains, improving global market access and enhancing the competitiveness of Jammu and Kashmir’s handicrafts and handloom sector under the “Local to Global” initiative.
Officials said the classification of the three districts is expected to enable targeted infrastructure development, export facilitation measures, skill enhancement programmes and branding initiatives to strengthen the region’s textile ecosystem.
On the second day, the Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, held detailed consultations with stakeholders focusing on export promotion, quality improvement, branding strategies, logistics support and market expansion for the region’s traditional crafts sector.
The deliberations were aligned with the District Export Action Plan (DEAP) and State/UT Export Action Plan (SEAP) frameworks, with emphasis on identifying district-specific export strengths, policy gaps and growth opportunities.
Key areas discussed included the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, District Export Hub initiative, Free Trade Agreements, sustainability standards, ESG compliance, cluster development and stronger integration of artisans with global value chains.
Officials said the recommendations emerging from the workshop will be placed before the National Consultative Summit scheduled for June 2026, which is expected to contribute to a national roadmap for achieving the USD 100 billion textile export target.
The initiative is expected to significantly enhance Jammu and Kashmir’s presence in global textile and handicraft markets while strengthening livelihoods across the artisan community.
