Leh, March 28: One-day seminar on ‘Export Enhancement and Awareness’ was organised in Leh by the Department of Industries and Commerce, UT Ladakh in collaboration with the Handloom Export Promotion Council for entrepreneurs and Self-help groups of Ladakh. 

Addressing the participants, Secretary Industries and Commerce, Saugat Biswas thanked HEPC for organizing the seminar and hoped that pashmina export will pick up in Ladakh. He shared that districts Leh and Kargil already have an export plan in place. Further, Secretary Saugat Biswas requested the Director of Industries and Commerce to identify Ladakhi entrepreneurs interested in evolving as exporters. He directed the Ladakh Incubation Centre, Leh to be one point of contact for entrepreneurs who want to export or need handholding. He asked the Ladakh Incubation Centre team to be in direct touch with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and HEPC and requested DGFT to give them guidance on the various portal services.

In his address, Director Industries and Commerce, Moses Kunzang said that the Department has been interacting with various experts and institutions to help entrepreneurs from Ladakh venture into export within India and foreign countries. Highlighting the various initiatives taken by the department, Moses Kunzang shared that a state-of-the-art laboratory will soon be set up in Ladakh to certify the purity of pashmina wool. Further, he shared that Ladakh emporiums will be established in New Delhi, Leh Market, Diskit and Kargil for entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their products.

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Giving the welcome address, Executive Director, Handloom Export Promotion Council, N. Sreedhar said that the programme was exclusively designed for the development of handloom products from Ladakh and hoped that the programme would be beneficial to the participants.

In the seminar, the participants were given a detailed presentation on important themes such as Shawl and Carpet weaving on Handlooms by Principal Scientist and Nodal Officer, Central Sheep & Wool Research Institute, Rajasthan; Assistant Manager, NHDC, Kullu, S.S. Shinde, gave a presentation on yarn schemes; Deputy Director, WSC, Srinagar, Tahir Ahmad made the participants aware of India Handloom Brand and various schemes of the Ministry of Textile. The participants were given a presentation on Pashmina Production by Professor Feroz Din Sheikh, Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Leh; DGFT Ludhiana, Dr. Ram Prakash also gave a presentation to the participants; Assistant Professor, NIFT, Srinagar, Dr. Yaseer Mir gave a presentation on Design and Marketing Intervention. The presentations were followed by an interactive session.

Around 28 entrepreneurs attended the seminar. In conclusion, the participants expressed their gratitude to the Department of Industries and Commerce for their support and initiatives.