'Buyer-seller meet promotes brand Kashmir'

‘Buyer-seller meet promotes brand Kashmir’

GreaterKashmir.com (press release), India

BILAL HUSSAIN

Srinagar, Oct 24: The international buyer-seller meet at SKICC is a primary step towards organizing prospective trade promotional meets here, believes KCCI.

About 50 stalls offer a profuse of collection of Kashmir art including papier machie, chainstitch, crewel embroidery, tapestry, namdas, kani shawls, carpets, woodcarving and copper ware.

The trade expo has jointly been organized by KCCI, state government and J&K Bank.

“The whole event is expected to cost on account of to-and-fro travel fare of buyers from Delhi, their lodging, boarding, sight seeing etc, not more than Rs 60 lakhs,” President KCCI, Dr Mubeen Shah said.

As many as 50 international buyers are participating the meet.

Dr Shah while taking stock of the stalls at SKICC said, “This is just a beginning. There could be some shortcomings as we are organizing such an international trade meet for the first time here.”

“The main intention behind organizing the meet was to send message across the globe that buyers from whole world can come here and can safely trade with Valley merchants,” Dr Shah said, adding that to promote Kashmiri handicraft as a global brand such meets can play an important role.

Arshid Lattoo managing partner Kashmir Royal Handicraft dealing in all handicraft items said, “We came here with much expectations but it has not been satisfactory. However, we hope next time it would be better.

Grand Kashmir Mart’ proprietor, Javaid Ahmad Khan said, “We have met a number of potential buyers and have got lots of enquires for our products. The event was organized in a better way. We expect huge booking from international buyer present here.”

“We have brought international buyers over here to have their specific focus on Kashmiri Handicraft items,” said Dr Shah.

“These types of meets provides exposure to exporters and they get to know about what is the latest market demand and they also bring changes in their products according to the choice of the customers,” said a stall holder.

He said if the exporters get much exposure they can increase the quantum of their exports. “That would certainly help the state to earn huge foreign exchange,” he said.

A stall-holder said the meet should also help the artisans. “It is true that such meets provide a platform to the buyer and sellers to come together. But it would serve more purpose if it provides a platform to the artisans also,” he said.