Middle East conflict deals blow to Kashmir’s handicraft sector as key exhibitions postponed

Kashmir's handicraft industry suffers as international exhibitions in China, UAE, and Europe are postponed due to West Asia conflict.

The escalating conflict in West Asia involving Iran, Israel, and the United States is rippling across the globe, hitting Kashmir’s famed handicraft industry hard. Artisans crafting silk carpets and Pashmina products face mounting losses as three major international exhibitions in China, the UAE, and Europe stand cancelled or postponed amid geopolitical tensions.

The Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) under the Ministry of Textiles confirmed the disruptions in an official order. “In view of the prevailing geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflict, the event organisers have informed the Council of the postponement of key international events,” it stated. The Copenhagen Lifestyle Expo, set for April 22–26 at FORUM Copenhagen, Denmark, now eyes August. China’s Qinghai International Carpet Exhibition, originally planned for June 10–14 in Qinghai, shifts to July. Details on the UAE event remain unclear, but traders report similar halts.

Tariq Ghani, President of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the fallout. “The ongoing West Asia conflict has significantly impacted Kashmir, particularly the handicraft industry. We had planned three major exhibitions in China, the UAE, and Denmark but all have been postponed. Around 600 orders have already been cancelled. This period is usually our peak export season… Europe remains one of our largest markets.”