New Delhi, July 20: Hardselling Jammu and Kashmir handicrafts, leading British store Harrods will hold a festival of Kashmiri handicrafts in association with Textiles Ministry. "Harrods has shown keen interest in Kashmir handicraft products developed by the ministry and have agreed to hold a festival for their exhibition," Union Textiles Minister Syed Shahanawaz Hussain told here.
However, he said dates and other details of the festival were still being worked out and added that Harrods was also bringing in designers who will design products which will be displayed at the festival in the store in London.
Hussain said this initiative was undertaken as a part of the Rs 72 crore Jammu and Kashmir package of the Prime Minister for the textile sector.
Government was planning several other initiatives including setting up of a satellite centre of Indian Institute of Carpet Technology and National Institute of Design supported Crafts Design Institute at Srinagar, he said.
Hussain said the ministry had already recieved approval from Expenditure Reforms Commission for creation of new posts for setting up of a weaver service centre.
About Rs 42 crore would be spent on the development of handicraft and handloom in the state which also involves giving both national as well as international marketing support.
"We are looking at providing integrated suppport from the raw material stage to final marketing stage," Hussain said adding that though Rs 70 crore has been allocated in the Tenth Five Year Plan for textiles as a part of Prime Minister's package for the state, the ministry may press for more support. Bureau Report