KCCI Delegation Meets Union Minister to Address Pashmina Export Issues

SRINAGAR: A delegation led by the President of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Javid Ahmad Tenga, recently called on the Union Minister for Forest, Environment & Climate Change (MOEFCC), Bhupinder Yadav, to discuss the challenges faced by exporters of Pashmina shawls. The delegation highlighted the problems faced by exporters at customs, where their shawls are suspected of containing banned content.

During the meeting, the KCCI presented a detailed presentation about the heritage Pashmina craft, it’s weaving process, and exports clearance. The delegation emphasized that the centuries-old cottage craft provided employment to tens of thousands of male & female artisans and the product was in demand within and outside the country in the form of shawls, stoles, rumals, lingerie, and fashion items.

However, exporters have been facing difficulties at customs for some time, where Wildlife Department officials send the shawls to testing facilities outside Delhi (Dehradun/Kolkata) for further examination. Sometimes, the tests report the presence of Guard Hair, which is confused with Shahtoosh, causing a considerable period of time to be lost. This process results in the chain of production getting disturbed and affecting the livelihoods of artisans involved in the process of Pashmina weaving & embroidery.

The KCCI proposed to the minister that in view of conflicting reports of laboratories, the DNA testing of export consignments be done. The Minister accepted the KCCI proposal and assured that in future, DNA testing will be done to address this issue. The Minister was also apprised of the issue of NOC/clearance by Pollution Control Committee, which needed to be simplified and made time-bound.

The KCCI President invited the Minister for a seminar in Srinagar to review the progress of conservation projects being carried out by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change. The Minister accepted the invitation and asked the KCCI to communicate a suitable date for the seminar for confirmation.