Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 12: Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo today called for exploring new marketing channels to enhance sale and export of State’s world famous handicrafts in a big way. He urged for closing down of all loss making units (sales outlets) of the J&K Handicrafts (Sales and Export) Corporation and enhance its market presence by setting up showrooms in locationally advantageous places especially in metropolis and tourist spots.
Speaking at the 119th meeting of the Board of Directors of J&K Handicrafts (S&E) Corporation Limited held at Civil Secretariat, here this afternoon, Kichloo urged for devising strategies to ensure increase in customer traffic to showrooms. For this purpose, he called for roping in taxi drivers attached to stands of five star and deluxe hotels besides house boat owners registered with Tourism Department, tour operators and travel agents by paying them genuine facilitation charges.
The Minister also called for a comprehensive purchase/procurement policy so that targeted sales turn over with projected financial result in achieved. He urged for special sales promotion drives coupled with a sustained publicity campaign about State’s handicrafts. He said brand promotion needs to be utilized as a marketing tool to boost sales turnover of the Corporation. He said effective and constant performance monitoring and target revision on monthly basis can be pivotal for improving the fiscal base of the Corporation.
The Commissioner/ Secretary Industries and Commerce, Shantmanu, Director Codes, Dr. Mohammad Ishaq Wani, MD J&K Handicrafts (S&E) Corporation, Muzaffar Hussain Munshi and Director Handicrafts and concerned officers were also present in the meeting.
The meeting accorded approval to the revival cum business plan for 2013-18 for the Corporation which engages to broad base marketing activities, branding of Kashmir Government Arts Emporium, increasing market share by reaching out to appropriate market segments. The meeting also approved the proposal regarding implementation of 6th pay revision and one time relaxation in service rules.
The Managing Director, Muzaffar Hussain while briefing about the performance of the Corporation said that the Corporation has fixed a sales target of Rs. 18 crore for the 2013-14 against a sales target of Rs. 14 crore for the last fiscal against which the corporation actually achieved a turnover of Rs. 1595.89 lakh which is 114% performance in relation to the target.
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