Union Commerce Ministry to hold Kashmir expo in Oct

Srinagar, Aug 27 (UNI) The Union Commerce Ministry is organising a three-day Kashmir Expo here from October 22 in collaboration with the state government and the Jammu and Kashmir Bank.

This would be the first buyer-seller meet of its kind here to be participated by buyers of Kashmiri products from India and abroad, Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said this on the conclusion of his three-day visit to Srinagar, Leh and Kargil.

He said this would be an annual feature now onwards. Instead of sending delegations from here to explore possibilities of exports, the buyers would be invited to the Kashmir valley, Mr Ramesh said at a review meeting with the state government officials here.

It was also decided that the work on the international trade centre in Pampore would start in the third week of September as the Centre has finally approved the Rs 35 crore project.

The India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) was preparing its design which would be submitted to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on September 10.

The Minister also revealed that an expert delegation from Chennai-based Leather Council of India would be visiting Srinagar in the first week of September to make an on-the-spot assessment of establishing leather export industry in the state.

Mr Ramesh said the Commerce Ministry would be setting up a Jewellery Design Institute here and a training course in jewellery designing and gem cutting was already going on in the Kashmir valley to boost the activity.

On his visit to Leh and Kargil, he said the Ministry would be helping in cultivation, processing and marketing of Seabuckthorne produced in Leh which was being used in making juice and medicine.

He said Leh produces 11000 tonnes of Seabuckthorne and only 30 per cent was being processed at present. This has a major potential to expand employment opportunities and export earnings.

Similarly, Mr Ramesh said Kargil was the only area in India which produces 3000 tonnes of apricot. The Ministry would help in doubling the production and also in its processing and packaging as it has good potential for exports.

The Minister also said the Spices Board of India would soon sign a memorandum of understanding with a masala company operating in Jammu and Kashmir to bring mint, zera, pudina and saffron of the Valley into the international spices market.

To boost pashmina, sozni and kani shawl production and marketing a geographical indication would be provided to these products to add to the brand profitability, he added.

UNI