35 Kashmiri Artisans to Showcase Handicrafts at IITF 2025

SRINAGAR: A total of 35 artisans and weavers from Kashmir will participate in the 44th edition of the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2025, scheduled from November 14 to 27 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, officials said.

Organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), the IITF is the country’s largest trade-cum-consumer fair, drawing lakhs of visitors annually.

According to a statement by the Handicrafts and Handlooms Department, Kashmir, the participants were selected through a draw of lots following a requisition from the Jammu Kashmir Trade Promotion Organisation. The list includes five each from Srinagar and Budgam, three each from Baramulla, Ganderbal, Anantnag, and Bandipora, two each from Kupwara, Shopian, Pulwama, and Kulgam, and five from registered cooperative societies.

The fair will provide Kashmiri artisans a direct marketing platform to showcase and sell their products, including Pashmina and Kani shawls, Sozni and Crewel embroidery, hand-knotted silk carpets, walnut wood carvings, and papier-mâché items, to domestic and international buyers.

“This is a golden opportunity for our artisans to connect directly with buyers. IITF 2025 will not only elevate Kashmir’s GI-tagged handicrafts on a global platform but also economically empower our craftsmen by ensuring they retain the full value of their labour,” the department spokesman added.