KUPWARA, JANUARY 11: Jammu & Kashmir Trade Promotion Organisation (JKTPO) in collaboration with Invest India and District administration Kupwara successfully concluded the onboarding drive of ODOP products on Government e-Market place(GeM) for walnut exporters, FPO, entrepreneurs, traders of district Kupwara at DC office complex, Kupwara today.

On the directions of Prashant Goyal, Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce, JKTPO is engaging with all the districts of UT to promote local ODOP products and create awareness regarding advantages of selling their products on the Government’s e-Marketplace and other e-commerce platforms.

Walnut is the ODOP of district Kupwara under District as Export Hub Scheme/ODOP initiative. Jammu and Kashmir accounts for more than 98% of walnut production in India. Locally known as “Doen”, Walnuts of Kupwara are naturally organic as no sprays and fertilizers are used in their cultivation.

The onboarding will open Government market for ODOP products especially for gifting/souvenir purpose during major government events, conferences, summits especially in view of various G20 meetings to be held across the country in 2023.

During the drive all the participants were made aware regarding the benefits of GeM onboarding was given by industrial experts from JKTPO and Invest India. Around 20 participants attended this onboarding drive. Participants who were onboarded on GeM platform won’t be charged any caution/security money.

Event was also graced by the officers of DIC and officers from DC office, Kupwara. This is the third district level drive for onboarding of ODOP product on GeM platform organised by JKTPO in a row after Ganderbal and Budgam.

This drive is the result of the initiative taken by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce who have informed all States/UTS in that “ODOP Products” are to be onboarded on GeM portal and “District Collectors” have been designated as OEMs to facilitate the GeM portal onboarding drive at district level. Artisans/ Farmers /FPOs/ Artisan Organizations/ SHGS/ Small entrepreneurs of “ODOP Products” can get onboarded on GeM portal without any fees and GST.

Pertinently, GeM was launched by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, is the national public procurement portal for an online, end-to-end marketplace for open, efficient and transparent procurement of goods and services by central and state government organisations

Among those onboarded on spot were Safaan Dry fruits, Athwas Hortifed producer company, Adnan Dry fruits etc.

JKTPO in recent past has been actively promoting the e-commerce/export awareness in Jammu & Kashmir by organising different workshops at district levels. Like this session for onboarding on GeM, JKTPO also organised awareness drives and onboarding drives for onboarding on ONDC platform. JKTPO is also assisting sellers from the UT in forging market linkages by participating in trade fairs and exhibition at national and international level.

A similar GeM onboarding drive is scheduled in other districts of Jammu and Kashmir region in next up coming days.( INFO)