J&K chief minister calls for promotion of ‘Brand Kashmir’

SRINAGAR: Calling for the promotion of ‘Brand Kashmir’ Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Saturday assured the business community that the base of industry and handicraft sector in the State would be strengthened.

Sayeed was addressing businessmen after inaugurating ‘Kashmir Expo’ - 6th International Buyer-Seller Meet, at SKICC here.

Besides domestic buyers, business delegates from 21 countries including United States, UK, Germany, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Vietnam and Indonesia are participating in the meet.

Sayeed emphasised upon promoting ‘Brand Kashmir’ to protect the state’s exceptional hand-made products from fakes being sold in national, overseas markets in the name of ‘Kashmir Art’.

“It is our joint responsibility to see that ‘Brand Kashmir’ is safeguarded and fake products in the name of Kashmir Art are not only discouraged but totally wiped out. This can only be done with active participation of all stakeholders,” he said.

Sayeed said the state is framing a new Industrial Policy which will primarily focus on investment and employment generation without compromising on environment and ecology.

Stressing on patenting of handicraft and handloom products, he said, steps have to be taken to protect rare arts and sale in volume so that “we are able to cater to the demands at national and global-level.”