Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!š Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. GANDERBAL: The Jammu and Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization (JKTPO) organised an Export Awareness and E-Commerce Onboarding Drive at the Conference Hall of the Mini-Secretariat, Ganderbal, to help local producers access export opportunities and expand their businesses through digital commerce.
The programme was held in collaboration with the District Administration Ganderbal, the Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Ganderbal, the District Industries Centre (DIC), Ganderbal, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
The drive aimed to empower local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), artisans, Mission YUVA beneficiaries and self-help groups (SHGs) with practical knowledge of export schemes and the benefits of digital commerce.
At the outset, the Assistant Director of Handicrafts and Handloom, Ganderbal, said the drive was intended to empower local producers for the digital economy by facilitating the onboarding of artisans, farmer-producer organisations (FPOs), MSMEs, Mission YUVA beneficiaries and SHGs onto national e-commerce platforms.
A JKTPO representative outlined the organisationās role in promoting trade and exports from Jammu and Kashmir, particularly through district-level initiatives. The representative highlighted Ganderbalās traditional willow-wicker products, recognised under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative and the District as Export Hub scheme.
Known for their distinctive designs and craftsmanship, Ganderbalās willow-wicker products have considerable potential in domestic and international markets, the representative said. Onboarding local sellers on GeM can provide access to government procurement opportunities, while digital commerce platforms can connect producers with a wider customer base.
The representative added that the initiative seeks to strengthen local enterprises, promote district-specific products and help them enter national and global markets through greater digital adoption and awareness of government schemes.
Maqbool Shah, Senior Consultant with GeM, explained how the GeM portal works, the documents required for registration and the benefits available to sellers after onboarding.
Rahil Ahmad, ONDC consultant with Mission YUVA, outlined the benefits of ONDC, an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India. He explained the registration process, the required documents and how ONDC offers sellers open access to buyers across India, with zero commission and low logistics costs. He described ONDC as the digital backbone of Mission YUVAās efforts to create youth entrepreneurs in Ganderbal.
The programme forms part of JKTPOās ongoing efforts to promote exports from every district of Jammu and Kashmir under the District as Export Hub scheme and the ODOP initiative. Expert-led sessions covered export benefits, branding local products for international markets, export financing options and credit-risk insurance schemes to safeguard exporters.
More than 160 artisans, exporters and FPOs from Ganderbal district attended the workshop. Participants engaged actively in discussions and showed keen interest in onboarding their products on GeM. The interactive sessions also gave enterprises an opportunity to understand the benefits of e-commerce, seek clarification and gain practical insights into using digital commerce to expand their businesses.
GeM and ONDC set up on-the-spot help desks to assist with onboarding and document verification. More than 50 sellers were onboarded on ONDC and GeM during the workshop, while over 100 enquiries were registered for further handholding and support with export documentation.
The initiative is part of JKTPOās continued work to promote digital adoption, strengthen market access and help MSMEs, farmers and artisans across Jammu and Kashmir reach wider markets. The programme concluded with a call for more Ganderbal enterprises to adopt digital commerce and use platforms such as ONDC and GeM to strengthen their online presence and pursue sustainable business growth.
