Srinagar, June 29 (JKNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said Jammu and Kashmir must focus on creating a new generation of exporters while strengthening support for existing ones, asserting that the International Buyer-Seller Meet 2026 provides a vital platform to connect local artisans, manufacturers and self-help groups with buyers from across the world.
Addressing the gathering at the International Buyer-Seller Meet 2026 organised at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), Srinagar, as per news agency JKNS, Omar Abdullah welcomed over 30 foreign buyers, domestic buyers, exporters, artisans, self-help groups and representatives of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), describing the event as an important milestone in promoting exports from Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Minister said his association with FIEO dates back nearly 25 years to his tenure in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, adding that he was pleased to renew that association through the international trade event.
Omar Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir has traditionally been an exporting region, particularly through tourism, where visitors purchased handicrafts and local products and carried them back to different parts of India and abroad.
He said the decline in tourism during difficult years forced artisans and handicraft producers to seek new markets by travelling across the country and participating in trade fairs and buyer-seller interactions.
The Chief Minister said the International Buyer-Seller Meet has evolved over the years and this edition is unique because it has expanded participation beyond traditional handicraft exporters by including women-led self-help groups and artisans from remote rural areas.
Highlighting the export potential of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah said nearly 98 per cent of the Union Territory’s exports currently come from only four districts, while the remaining districts contribute just two per cent.
He said the government’s objective is not only to help those already exporting but also to create entirely new exporters by enabling local producers to access national and international markets.
Referring to the Government of India’s ambitious export targets, the Chief Minister said Jammu and Kashmir has been tasked with doubling its exports by 2030, making it essential to diversify both products and markets.
He said the participation of foreign buyers from nearly 15 countries offers local manufacturers and artisans an opportunity to understand international demand and develop products suited to global markets.
Omar Abdullah also highlighted the introduction of the “Know Your Artisan” initiative during the International Buyer-Seller Meet 2026, saying buyers should not only see finished products but also meet the artisans behind them to understand the craftsmanship, tradition and stories associated with every handmade product.
He further pointed out that Jammu and Kashmir’s actual exports are often under-reported because export documentation is completed outside the Union Territory, causing exports to be reflected in the accounts of other states.
The Chief Minister said the government is working towards simplifying export procedures within Jammu and Kashmir so that products manufactured in the Union Territory are properly reflected in its export statistics.
Expressing hope that the two-day International Buyer-Seller Meet 2026 would strengthen trade linkages and generate new business opportunities, Omar Abdullah thanked all the delegates for travelling to Srinagar and assured them of the government’s continued support in promoting Jammu and Kashmir’s products across global markets. (JKNS)
