The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) organised the fifth International Buyer Seller meet in a bid to promote indigenous handicraft and handloom products in the international market.
With the finest of Indian handicraft products on display, the event proved a riot of colours, designs and innovations which undoubtedly give a boost to the Kashmiri handicraft business.
Some sixty odd number of stalls displayed an array of handicraft products like carpets, shawls, paper machie products and wood carved products. The meet was attended by traders and buyers from twenty eight countries worldwide including Italy, Spain, Germany, Saudi Arabia and many more European countries.
Enthusiastic visitors thronged the exhibition of products and the interaction provided the much needed exposure to the artisans and to Indian Handicrafts.
Organiser and KCCI president Sheikh Ashiq said that these kinds of initiatives are a boon to the handicraft trade.
"This kind of interaction gives an exposure to indigenous products in the international market. The international traders get to learn about our handicraft and handloom products and more interactions ensure better trade," said Ashiq.
Famous handicraft products like Pashminas and carpets topped the list of popularity among the International buyers.
"We are looking for scarves, especially Pashminas. We had Pashminas before from India but not from Kashmir, which are famous. And maybe we would like to see some other stufs like carpets and may be some oriental handmade stuff," said a buyer from Slovakia, Benjemin.
Along with offering a slew of handpicked products, the event was a meeting ground for the buyers and the artisans who are hardly able to market their products abroad.
Local entrepreneur, Gazala Amin said that small artisans who are hardly able to market their products reached the international traders at the event and demonstrated the kind of labour and intricacies put into making these products.
"The major exporters can go abroad to exhibit their products but the artisans who are not able to travel to other countries to market their products are given exposure at this platform. KCCI has taken this initiative to invite international business houses, traders, buyers to come and explore the Indian products and to learn how much effort is put into the making of these products," said Amin.
Kashmiri handicrafts are known throughout the world for their artistic work and grandeur. The vast cultural and ethnic diversity of Kashmir has enabled a variety of motifs, techniques and crafts to flourish on this land.
The various handicrafts are in tune with its age-old splendid civilisation, which has been perfected over centuries. Be it Kashmiri carpets, shawls, paper machie or any other craft, it is only the Kashmiri artisan who can perfectly carve out the master pieces of Kashmiri art and craft.
