SRINAGAR, July 12 -- Jammu and Kashmir has exported hand-knotted carpets worth Rs.838.70 crore in the last three financial years.

This is despite global conflicts that affected markets in the Middle East and other destinations.

To boost the carpet trade, the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT), Srinagar, has now master trained around 11,000 carpet weavers from different districts, under various skill development programmes.

The weavers have been trained on modified carpet looms, which shall go a long way in penetrating niche markets for the famed hand-knotted carpets, which are the second most exported handmade product from Kashmir.

In a press statement released here today, Director IICT, Zubair Ahmad, said that the services ...