Экспортеры из Джамму и Кашмира сталкиваются с бюрократическими барьерами при реализации соглашения с Оманом

Jammu and Kashmir exporters are facing procedural bottlenecks in accessing benefits under the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with delays in obtaining key documents threatening to undermine the tariff advantages offered by the trade pact. Exporters are facing difficulties in obtaining certificates of origin, a key document required to claim preferential tariff benefits under the agreement. “Exporters from Kashmir face difficulties in obtaining certificates of origin as the issuing authority, DGFT Regional Authority, is at Ludhiana. It takes time to get the certificates,” said Javed Ahmad Tenga, President of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). He said the matter had been taken up with the authorities, who had assured exporters that an official would be dedicated to handling such matters for Jammu and Kashmir. The India-Oman CEPA was signed in Muscat on December 18, 2025, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said. After completion of the internal processes by both countries, the agreement entered into force on June 1, 2026. For Jammu and Kashmir, the pact could provide greater market access for traditional and high-value products, including handicrafts, carpets, pashmina, dry fruits, saffron and processed food. Oman could also serve as a gateway for exporters from the Union Territory to the wider Gulf market. However, exporters and industry representatives said the benefits could remain limited unless procedural and logistical constraints are addressed. “The concerned authorities need to create a dedicated J&K CEPA Export Facilitation Cell, simplify procedures, organise sector-specific awareness programmes and provide handholding to exporters,” said Qazi Tauseef, an exporter and spokesperson for the Kashmir Economic Alliance. Limited awareness Limited awareness among micro, small and medium enterprises and traditional exporters about the procedures for claiming CEPA benefits is another hurdle, exporters said. “Smaller businesses, which often lack dedicated export and compliance teams, can find it difficult to navigate documentation requirements,” Tauseef said. Logistics also remain a concern. The distance from J&K to major ports, high freight costs and limited direct connectivity can erode the tariff advantage offered under the agreement, exporters said. Annual trade between Oman and Kashmir is estimated at around ₹300 crore, highlighting the existing commercial links between the two markets. Industry representatives believe the CEPA could help expand this trade if exporters are able to access its preferential provisions more easily. “For smaller exporters in particular, easier certification, local handholding and greater awareness could determine whether the CEPA translates into actual gains in overseas markets,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, another exporter. Published on September 1, 2026