SRINAGAR: Ladakh’s famed Pashmina, often celebrated as the “Golden Fibre of Ladakh” for its exceptional fineness, warmth, and heritage value, took centre stage at a two-day international conclave in Leh aimed at strengthening the entire Pashmina ecosystem and positioning the region as a global hub for premium natural fibre.
Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena, on Friday inaugurated the Conclave, organised as a Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet. It has brought together a wide range of stakeholders from across the Pashmina value chain, including Changpa nomadic herders, artisans, women-led self-help groups, entrepreneurs, textile industry representatives, designers, manufacturers, researchers and domestic and international buyers.
Known as the “Golden Fibre of Ladakh” for its exceptional fineness, warmth and heritage value, Ladakh Pashmina formed the central focus of discussions on enhancing production, processing, branding, innovation and market access while ensuring greater benefits reach primary producers.
Addressing delegates at the inaugural session, the Lt. Governor described the conclave as a significant step towards translating the global recognition of Ladakh Pashmina into tangible economic gains for local communities. “Our vision is clear: Pashmina must be produced in Ladakh, processed in Ladakh, branded as Ladakh Pashmina, and taken to the world from Ladakh,” he said, stressing that Changpa herders, artisans, women entrepreneurs and self-help groups must remain at the centre of the sector’s growth.
The event also attracted international participation from Mongolia, Japan and Thailand, adding a global dimension to the deliberations. Discussions focused on sustainable pastoral livelihoods, fibre quality enhancement, advanced processing technologies, craftsmanship, product development and market expansion.
A major highlight of the conclave is the Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet, which seeks to facilitate direct interaction between Pashmina producers and buyers, textile manufacturers, designers and exporters. Organisers said the initiative would help local producers understand evolving market requirements, quality standards and consumer preferences while opening avenues for commercial partnerships and reducing dependence on intermediaries.
On the occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Textiles and the Department of Industries and Commerce, UT Ladakh, to strengthen cooperation for the promotion and development of the Pashmina sector.
The Lt. Governor also released a commemorative postal stamp on GI-tagged Ladakh Pashmina, recognising the fibre’s unique identity, traditional craftsmanship and cultural significance.
Highlighting the administration’s long-term plans for the sector, Saxena said efforts were underway to improve productivity and quality through scientific breeding, sustainable rangeland management and better fibre harvesting practices. He said the administration was working towards increasing the Pashmina goat population from about two lakh to four lakh over the next three years.
Calling for deeper international collaboration, the Lt. Governor urged delegates from Mongolia to promote exchanges among herders, technicians and researchers, while inviting Japanese partners to collaborate in areas such as precision spinning, quality certification, traceability systems, design innovation and market linkages. “We are not competitors. We are partners in the story of fine natural fibre,” he said, underscoring the need for cooperation to expand opportunities across the sector.
The conclave is expected to chart a roadmap for strengthening Ladakh’s Pashmina ecosystem through greater value addition within the region, improved market access and international cooperation, while preserving the pastoral traditions that have sustained the industry for generations.
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