Discusses issues faced by craft exporters, artisans with Parliamentary Standing Committees

Srinagar, Aug 24: Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry delegation led by Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad and Farooq Amin had an interaction with Parliamentary Standing Committee for  Development of Handlooms, Handicrafts and welfare Measures for the Weavers and Artisans in the Union territory of Jammu & Kashmir on  Monday and Parliamentary Standing Committee on “Augmenting Infrastructure Facilities to Boost Exports from J&K on Tuesday here at SKICC.

According to KCCI statement, the delegation discussed the following points with these committees:

• Exporters are facing a lot of challenges and difficulties as regard exports from the Kashmir region is concerned. As we are at the fag end of India without logistic support as still, we have no dry port with the result export goods reach Delhi with higher fare rates resulting in losing the competition at international level. So freight subsidies are given to exporters from Jammu & Kashmir as they can’t compete with others who are close to ports. Kashmir has a geographical disadvantage in logistics in respect of road transport. In order to increase export and make our products competitive in the international market, there is a need to subsidize freight both air and road.
• State and Centre Government must come up with attractive schemes so that entrepreneurs/educated unemployed youth will attract towards this Export Industry.
• All handmade items should be exempted from taxes like GST. To preserve the livelihood of Weavers, Artisans, Traders, Exporters who are involved in handmade Handicraft and also the famous art of Cottage Industry, the GST must be waived off on Pashmina Shawls, Carpets, Papier Mache, Crewel, Chain Stitch, Wood Carving.
• Union Territory Government must come up with  Special  Schemes for Exporters based on their performance/turnover basis. Government should declare Special Scheme in which 10% incentives be given to the exporter yearly on a performance/turnover basic to encourage the exporters and boost Kashmir.
• Those Silk Carpets which contains more than 60% silk should be given 7% incentives in RODTEP Scheme to encourage and boost Silk Handmade Carpets in Kashmir.
• There should be a separate ITC (HS) code for Pashmina Shawls and verified by the competent testing laboratory.  No capping should be placed on Pashmina Shawls or other value-added handicraft items under RODTEP Scheme.
• Government should give all the benefits to Kashmir Handicrafts and declare it as Special Economic Zone.
• Warehousing Facility at International Airport.
• The Department connected with the Exporters such as Banks, ECGC, DGFT does not provide the required awareness to the exporters.
• Government must promote Carpet Village/City in Sumbal, Sonawari, where we have more than 20,000 Artisans / Weavers available be identified as Modal Carpet Village which is already existing as per Industrial land bank availability. 200 Kanals of land should be initially provided  to manufacturers/exporters in an organized way  and Stake Holders should be asked to apply  online and submit relevant DPR as per their
• Infrastructure with this Carpet Village/ City should be fully supported and incent-wise in the form of 90:10 due to the present situation of carpet business in Kashmir. This Carpet Village should be installed with all Common Facility Centers wherein Design Development, Dying, Washing, Bank Facilities, Packing. To promote this Carpet Village wherein Carpet Manufacturers/ Exporters will come out with new innovations and designs to cater for the International Market.
• To give incentives like Export Subsidy to Silk Handmade Carpets which are exported at a 10% from Jammu & Kashmir region as per Government Order No: 54-IND of 2020 Dated: 10-03-2020(Jammu and Kashmir Wool Processing, Handloom, Handicraft, Policy-2020). As the decline of exports is worsening every year. It is requested to issue a Public  Notice for the above-said Incentive given in the Policy so that manufacturers and exporters get encouraged.
• Government must give support to the present manufacturer/exporter to sustain in this present turmoil as most of the accounts are either stressed or turned NPAs.
• 100% Freight Subsidy from Jammu & Kashmir to the relevant ports should be reimbursed as we are at the fag end of India.
• Office of the Jt. Director (DGFT):- Till a few years back the office at Srinagar was being manned and managed by Joint Director (DGFT) and our problems and needs were being well attended thereby solving the said problems expeditiously. Unfortunately, now the office is being held by a junior officer which results in undue delay in solving the problems. It is requested that a Joint Director General be posted at Srinagar permanently.
• The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry has felt the need of having  Expo Marts for Handicrafts products and Carpets where we can Exhibit our products to International Buyers.
• Inland Container Depo in Kashmir will be created which will help our exporters to export directly from Srinagar and increase the products which we are exporting not only but also the volume of present export.