Will recommend reducing GST to 5 per cent on J-K’s handloom, handicraft products: Piyush Goyal

Union Commerce ‘and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday promised to recommend a reduction in the Goods and Services Tax imposed on handicrafts and handloom products to help promote the sector in Jammu and Kashmir.

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Addressing the PTTL Traders Conclave - 2025 in Srinagar, the Union Minister said, "The issue of GST levied on handicrafts and handlooms was brought to my attention by two or three system delegations. 1 have suggested that they submit an application regarding this matter to the Finance Ministry as well as to me so that we can explore what relief ean be provided. We will try to reduce the GST rate from 12 per cent to 5 per cent on these items, which would help promote the hand-loom and handieraft sectors ~ especially in Jammu & Kashmir. We will make efforts to find a way forward in this regard."

“One of the topics raised was the need for packaging units where new designs and technologies could be introduced to better promote local products such as handicrafts, hortieul-ture items, pashmina shawls and handlooms," Goyal said.

The Union Minister said that Jammu and Kashmir will soon get a Centre of Excellence for Packaging and Design.