Amid Covid-19 Kashmiri art turns to virtual fairs
The fairs were conducted with carpet export promotional council were in nine exhibitors took part and export promotional council for exhibitors where 26 exhibitors took part and four more took part in other e-exhibitions.
Post by on Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Srinagar, Nov 18 : COVID-19 turned to be a boon for the department of handicrafts as it took part in different virtual fairs.
A total of 39 exhibitors took part in these virtual fairs.
The fairs were conducted with carpet export promotional council were in nine exhibitors took part and export promotional council for exhibitors where 26 exhibitors took part and four more took part in other e-exhibitions.
These were the first virtual fairs conducted by the department of handicrafts and 26 e-portfolios were created for the same.
"These e-portfolios comprises of a short video, catalogue, company profile and contact us," said, Masrat-ul-Islam, Director department of handicrafts.
Masrat-ul-Islam said that department is giving a direction to artisans on how to explore e-markets so that when they aren't going out they can still sell their goods.
Some of the exhibitors shared their websites as well, he said.
7000 buyers visited these e-portfolios during these exhibitions and got the department three awards as well.
"We got the best virtual display booth awards and department was also awarded for facilitating the exhibitors," said Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, Assistant Director export promotions.
During the time of COVID19, the government also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Flipkart where in artisans can sell their products on the website. The Flipkart is providing free services for the artisans for six months.
"The services include free photoshoot, transaction services and transit dispatch," Shah added.
The department is also planning to sell the products on another e-commerce website which may also include Amazon.
He further said that during COVID19, the production increased multiple times but marketing the goods is still a problem.
Though the department is sending artisans for physical fairs now but still more needs to be done, he said.
According to him, they have a huge unsold inventory but goods can be sold only once the atmosphere gets suitable.
"We have sent artisans to Noida recently and many more fairs are coming up."
