Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today inaugurated the two-day Jammu and Kashmir International Buyer-Seller Meet-2026 at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC). He reaffirmed that the government is commitment to transforming Jammu and Kashmir into a globally competitive export hub by expanding market access for local artisans, women Self-Help Groups (SHGs), handicraft producers and agro-based enterprises.
The international trade event is being organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Trade Promotion Organisation (J&K TPO) in association with the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO). More than 30 international and national buyers from over 14 countries are participating in the meet, which also features over 20 live demonstrations under the ‘Know Your Artisan’ initiative and showcases more than 100 handicrafts, handloom and agro-food products from across Jammu and Kashmir.
The event featured dedicated pavilions established for women Self-Help Groups and the specially curated ‘Know Your Artisan’ initiative, aimed at creating direct engagement between buyers and the craftsmen behind the region’s world-renowned products.
Earlier, after inaugurating the event, the Chief Minister inspected exhibition stalls put up by participants from different districts of Jammu and Kashmir, including women SHGs, artisans and entrepreneurs displaying traditional handicrafts, handloom products, food items, crafts and other locally manufactured products. He also visited the stalls established by foreign buyer delegations and appreciated their participation in strengthening international trade linkages with Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a gathering of international buyers, exporters, artisans, women SHGs and entrepreneurs, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah welcomed the delegates from across the world and described the buyer-seller meet as an important platform for strengthening Jammu and Kashmir’s export ecosystem.
Reflecting on the region’s rich trading legacy, the Chief Minister said Jammu and Kashmir had historically been a place for export of its products , though not through conventional export channels. He observed that buyers from India and abroad have traditionally travelled to Kashmir as tourists, purchased local products and, in the process, have become ambassadors of Kashmiri craftsmanship in global markets. Many of these interactions, he noted, evolved into enduring business relationships spanning decades.
The Chief Minister, however, said changing circumstances and a prolonged decline in tourism had disrupted this traditional model, compelling artisans and handicraft producers to actively seek markets beyond the region. He said craftsmen who once relied on buyers visiting them had to travel across the country and abroad to rebuild commercial linkages and sustain their livelihoods.
Highlighting the government’s efforts to facilitate this transition, Omar Abdullah recalled that the process of organising structured buyer-seller meets in Jammu and Srinagar was initiated during his tenure in the Union Commerce and Industry Ministry to reconnect local producers with national and international markets.
He said the present edition of the buyer-seller meet marks a significant evolution by extending participation beyond traditional exporters to include women Self-Help Groups, rural entrepreneurs and artisans from remote areas who had previously remained outside such trade platforms.
Referring to the concentration of exports in only a handful of districts, the Chief Minister noted that nearly 98 per cent of Jammu and Kashmir’s exports currently originate from four districts, leaving enormous untapped potential across the rest of the region. He stressed that achieving the ambitious export targets set for the coming years would require not only supporting existing exporters but also creating a new generation of exporters from rural and underserved regions.
He said buyer-seller meet such as this provides an effective mechanism for connecting emerging producers with international markets and exposing them to export opportunities that were previously beyond their reach. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the recommendations and interactions emerging from the event would help increase export volumes while also diversifying Jammu and Kashmir’s export basket by introducing products that have so far remained outside global markets.
Underscoring the significance of the international participation, Omar Abdullah said the presence of buyers from more than 14 countries offers an invaluable opportunity for local producers to better understand evolving consumer preferences and global market requirements. Such interactions, he observed, would enable manufacturers and artisans to adapt and tailor their products in accordance with international demand, thereby enhancing their competitiveness.
The Chief Minister described the introduction of the ‘Know Your Artisan’ initiative as one of the defining features of this year’s event.
He said the initiative goes beyond showcasing finished products by enabling buyers to meet the artisans whose skill, dedication and craftsmanship bring these creations to life.
He remarked that while a handcrafted shawl or carpet tells one story, meeting the artisan behind it adds another dimension by creating a personal connection that enhances the product’s value and strengthens its appeal in international markets.
Observing that this edition of the buyer-seller meet is distinguished both by the diversity of its participants and its inclusive approach, Omar Abdullah expressed optimism that the two-day event would prove mutually beneficial for buyers and sellers alike by fostering lasting commercial partnerships and opening new avenues of trade.
The event was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Vikramjit Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), Ajay Sahai, Managing Director, J&K Trade Promotion Organisation, Sudarshan Kumar, besides senior officers, exporters, artisans, entrepreneurs, women Self-Help Groups, foreign delegates and trade representatives
