Ladakh Is Betting On Training To Take Pashmina Global

A new capacity building programme in Leh pairs traditional wool and pashmina artisans with design expertise from NIFT Srinagar, backed by a national MSME scheme.

LEH, 12 SEPTEMBER 2026: Ladakh's textile artisans began a new round of design and skill training this week, as the territory's Department of Industries and Commerce launched a capacity building programme under the national RAMP scheme, in partnership with NIFT Srinagar.

According to an official release from the Ladakh administration, the programme was inaugurated by Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra at the Zen Hotel in Leh, under Intervention No. LA-13 of the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance scheme.

Inside the Programme

The Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance scheme is run nationally by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, with Ladakh's textile intervention aimed at strengthening the territory's value chain and promoting value addition to traditional products.

It was held in partnership with the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Srinagar Campus, at the Zen Hotel in Leh. The Department of Industries and Commerce and NIFT Srinagar have signed a memorandum of understanding covering value addition and design development for Ladakh's traditional textile products.

Officials said an assessment will follow the training to measure its impact and identify where further support is needed, rather than treating this session as a one off intervention.

Who Filled the Room

Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra inaugurated the programme, joined by Administrative Secretary Himanshu Gupta, Director of Industries and Commerce Sonam Norbu, NIFT Srinagar Director Prof. Monika Gupta, and Handloom and Handicrafts Superintendent Sachin Bali.

Sonam Norbu used his welcome address to walk participants through the RAMP scheme's role in strengthening MSMEs, and to explain the logic behind the NIFT partnership for design and value addition.

A Push For Formal Recognition

Norbu also confirmed that Ladakh has initiated Geographical Indication registration for 26 products and applications, a step that would give traditional items like pashmina formal legal protection against imitation.

Alongside GI status, officials stressed the importance of Udyam Registration, the government's MSME registration system, as the entry point for artisans and entrepreneurs to access wider scheme benefits.

Pashmina's Path to Bigger Markets

Kundra pointed to pashmina and wool as products with genuine potential in national and international markets, provided artisans, designers and buyers are better connected than they currently are.

He acknowledged that marketing and market access remain real obstacles for Ladakhi artisans, and called for targeted interventions rather than general encouragement. Suggestions included stronger business to business links between producers, designers and established brands, along with a dedicated Ladakh showroom brand built around contemporary designs rooted in traditional craftsmanship.

He also floated the idea of showcasing Ladakhi products through stalls and exhibitions linked to the Fashion Design Council in Delhi, a route that would put local artisans in front of buyers they would rarely reach otherwise.

What the Training Covers

Administrative Secretary Himanshu Gupta framed the programme around hands-on skillhands on skill building, aimed at improving product quality to match shifting consumer preferences while keeping the traditional character of Ladakhi textiles intact.

Prof. Monika Gupta of NIFT Srinagar said the goal is to bring modern design ideas together with Ladakh's pashmina traditions. She called it a two way exchange, not designers simply reworking local craft.

Sachin Bali presented departmental schemes and toolkit distribution details, while a separate presentation introduced participants to the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, a national programme supporting traditional artisans with training, tools and credit access.

The programme closed with a vote of thanks from Bali, acknowledging the coordination between the departments and institutions involved in organising the training.

What Comes Next

The planned post training assessment will be the first real test of whether this kind of state led intervention changes anything measurable for artisans, rather than remaining a well attended one day event.

Whether pashmina's GI applications are approved, and whether the Delhi exhibition idea materialises into an actual booking, are the two developments worth tracking over the coming months.

Key Takeaways

1. Ladakh trained its textile artisans in Leh on 12 September, backed by the RAMP scheme and NIFT Srinagar.
2. 26 traditional products, including pashmina, are now on track for GI protection against fakes.
3. Officials want stronger ties between artisans, designers and big brands, plus a dedicated Ladakh showroom brand.
4. Artisans should register under Udyam and the PM Vishwakarma Scheme to unlock government support.
5. Watch the GI applications and the training's impact review to see if this turns into real market access.