AV Thomas to set up wallet unit in Kashmir

07 Jan '08

3 min read

Union Minister of State for Commerce Mr. Jairam Ramesh stressed the need for permanent marketing centre for Kashmiri handicrafts in the capital.

He said the central government has identified 20 kanals of land for developing a marketing and exhibition centre of Kashmir handicraft.

Inaugurating the Kashmir handicrafts expo exhibition 2008 here this morning, Mr. Jairam said the centre has received a proposal from the Jammu and Kashmir government for setting up of a permanent marketing and exhibition centre for Kashmir handicraft in the capital.

He said such a centre would give fillip to the handicraft expo and suggested organizing such expos at other states of the country as well.

Present on the occasion were Minister for Power Mr. Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister of State for Industries Dr.Ramesh Chander and a number of handicraft exporters.

Enumerating the steps undertaken by the centre and state government for promoting handicrafts, the Minister said incentives for the paper machecraft have been enhanced and recently concluded buyer-seller meet at Srinagar has been made permanent feature. He said in the recently held Varanasi Expo. Kashmir Craft was given a prominent position.

On the development of infrastructure, Mr. Jairam Ramesh said a Rs 30 crore international trade centre is being set up at Pampore which would be fifth in the country after Chennai, Bangalore, Kolcutta and Gwahati.

Similarly, he said a craft development institute and institute of carpet technology are being set up in the state under Prime Minister's Reconstruction Plan to impart new techniques and designs to the artisans. An effluent treatment plant for leather is also being set up at a cost of Rs around 6 crore, he added.

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