SRINAGAR — Local carpet manufacturers have welcomed the cancellation of international exhibitions in Denmark, China, and the UAE, describing the development as "a welcome reprieve" from the annual ritual of transporting expensive handwoven carpets to distant countries where they would have remained unsold.

According to officials from the Department of Handicrafts and Handloom, the cancellations will save approximately 80,000 artisans associated with the carpet manufacturing industry from the disappointment of attending exhibitions where orders were unlikely to materialize. "This way, they can remain disappointed at home," said an official familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The cancelled exhibitions — originally scheduled for Copenhagen, Shanghai, and Dubai — were part of an initiative announced in 2022 to "boost exports" and "showcase Kashmiri craftsmanship on the global stage." Records indicate that similar exhibitions were held in 2019 and 2021, resulting in a combined total of 47 expressions of interest, none of which converted to confirmed orders. "The expressions were very sincere," noted a ministry spokesperson.

Mohammad Yusuf, a master weaver from Budgam who has been manufacturing carpets for 35 years, said he had already begun preparing samples for the Copenhagen exhibition when he learned of its cancellation. "I was planning to take my best pieces," he said, referring to three carpets that have accompanied him to exhibitions in Berlin, Milan, and Singapore since 2018. "Now they can stay here and I can show them to the next committee that comes to assess our situation."

The Department has allocated ₹12 crore for the current fiscal year to "facilitate market access and international exposure" for Kashmiri artisans, though officials could not specify how the funds would be utilized given that no exhibitions are currently scheduled. "The matter is under consideration," said a senior official. "We are exploring alternative modalities for expenditure."

Industry representatives noted that the cancellations have freed up time previously spent filling out exhibition application forms, arranging export documentation, and attending pre-departure briefings about the importance of punctuality and professional conduct at international venues. "We can now focus on our core activity," said Ghulam Hassan, president of the Kashmir Carpet Manufacturers Association, "which is making carpets that will be stored in our homes."

The ministry has announced plans to form a committee to study the impact of cancelled exhibitions on the carpet sector and to recommend measures for improving market access. The committee will be chaired by an official based in New Delhi who has never visited Kashmir, sources confirmed.