New Delhi, Sept. 11: The Union Territory of Ladakh participated in the ‘Indian Craft Bazaar organized on the sidelines of G20 Leader’s Summit’ held at the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC), Pragati Maidan of New Delhi from 9th to 10th of September, 2023.

The bazaar featured 30 stalls selling items from various States and Union Territories of India such as Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Seven North Eastern states and Ladakh with many other states too. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited the exhibition, where he observed and appreciated the craft forms on display.

The exhibition was a collaborative effort between the G20 Secretariat, the Ministry of Textiles, and various State and Union Territory Governments. Those attending the Crafts Bazaar included representation from around 30 States and Union Territories, as well as central agencies like the Khadi Village and Industries Commission, TRIFED, and Saras Ajeevika.

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The exhibition allowed G20 Summit attendees to purchase handicraft items that were being showcased during the 2 days event. The bazaar focused on products identified under the Government’s One District, One product Scheme (ODOP), which aims to promote specific items from each district and GI tagged items. Live demonstrations of various heritage crafts by artisans were also planned during the Summit.

Three highly skilled and experienced participant artisans and entrepreneurs from Ladakh were nominated by the Industries and Commerce department of UT Ladakh to represent Ladakh’s unique identity at the allocated stall of ‘Explore Union Territories’.

The participants showcased and sold their products which focused on the recently GI Tagged and the ODOP (One District One Product) products of the Union Territory that comprised of the Pashmina (woven shawls, mufflers, stoles and other knitted items) and Wood carved products (decorative items, traditional wooden tables (choktse), souvenirs, bowls, trays, etc). The participants made a sale record of around 2.20lacs during the 2 days of the exhibition boosting their morale and understanding of the Global market demands.

With the aim and objective of highlighting the rich and diverse cultural heritage of our country before the global audience, the event was organized to showcase the artistic skills, traditions and indigenous products of our country.

The Crafts Bazaar also aligns with the national priorities of promoting ‘Make in India’ and ‘Vocal for Local’. The exhibition was mainly designed for showcasing and selling of the products from India to the G20 foreign delegates and dignitaries of other visiting countries under one roof.

G20 Summit in Delhi has become more than just a platform for discussing global economic issues. It has transformed into a vibrant display of India’s rich cultural heritage, economic prowess, and diplomatic finesse. The Craft Bazaar was an attraction that rightly captivated India’s civilization heritage where craft forms took the center stage, fascinating delegates from around the world.