Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah speaks during the inaugural event of the ‘International Buyer-Seller Meet’ at SKICC, in Srinagar on Monday
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ANI
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said that Jammu and Kashmir must create more exporters to achieve the Government of India’s target of doubling exports by 2030.
Speaking at an international buyer–seller meet in Srinagar, which saw participation from stakeholders from across the globe, Abdullah said that nearly 98 per cent of the Union Territory’s exports currently originate from just four districts—Jammu, Srinagar, Kathua and Samba.
“Beyond these districts, only about two per cent of exports come from the rest of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the Centre’s ambitious export target for 2030 leaves the region with a limited timeframe to significantly expand its export base.
“We aim to support existing exporters, but we also need to create new exporters from those who are not exporting at present and make it easier for them to access global markets,” he said.
Abdullah said initiatives such as buyer–seller meets, along with feedback and recommendations from participants, would help strengthen the export ecosystem in the Union Territory.
He said Jammu and Kashmir has traditionally been associated with export activity, though not always through formal trade channels.
Small quantities
“Historically, our buyers came to us in the form of tourists who purchased goods in small quantities. That, in a way, was also a form of export,” he said.
However, he noted that this structure changed over time.
“In the past, we did not actively look for buyers as they came on their own. But then dark clouds emerged, tourism declined, and that traditional channel was disrupted,” he said.
He said the situation forced a shift towards innovation and new market linkages, particularly for the handicrafts sector.
“Earlier, artisans could rely on consumers coming to them. But later they had to pack their products, travel to different parts of the country, and build linkages to sell them,” he said.
Recalling his earlier tenure, Abdullah said efforts were made to institutionalise such outreach.
“When I was the Commerce and Industries Minister, we started programmes like buyer–seller meets to build relationships and connect local producers with wider markets,” he said.
Published on June 29, 2026
