In the recent seminar on Kashmiri art and craft, development commissioner, Shantmanu said, “The ministry of textiles is going to take up the Kashmiri issue of reducing the tax rate under the goods and services tax (GST) with the GST Council. The seminar was organised by the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently.

Local artisans said that the 12 per cent GST on handicrafts has badly affected the trade, official sources said. The issue of refund of GST on raw-material for handicrafts will be addressed, he said.

To boost the shawls and carpet industry, raw material banks for pashmina and silk will be encouraged, he added. A study group will be formed to undertake a survey on new and promising export markets for the Kashmir handicrafts.

– Apparel and Textile News, Apparel Talk, Indian Apparel