Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, met GI tagging expert and facilitator Dr. Rajni Kant at the LG Secretariat on September 4, where they discussed the global potential of Ladakhi products through Geographical Indications (GIs).

The Lt Governor said that granting GI status to Ladakhi products would provide them with a unique global identity while safeguarding the region’s centuries-old traditions and indigenous knowledge. GI tagging, he noted, will protect products from imitation, enhance their market value, generate fair trade opportunities for artisans and farmers, and act as a catalyst for tourism and economic growth.

Gupta reiterated that the UT Administration is committed to ensuring Ladakh’s distinctive products receive due recognition and fair pricing through GI certification. He emphasized that several items from both Leh and Kargil deserve GI status, and efforts are underway to secure it.

Dr. Rajni Kant informed the Lt Governor that the GI process for eight products from Leh—Ladakh Pashmina Textile, Ladakh Nambu/Snambu Textile, Ladakh Pabu (traditional shoes), Ladakh Thangka Painting, Ladakh Likir Pottery, Ladakh Chilling Metal Work, Ladakh Thigma (tie-and-dye textile), and Ladakh Challi Textiles—is in the final stages. He added that the next focus will be on products from Kargil.

The Lt Governor said that GI certification will not only raise the marketability and value of Ladakhi products but also boost the local economy through fair trade, employment generation, and tourism promotion, while assuring consumers of authentic quality.

In his concluding remarks, Gupta stressed that GI tagging, combined with community participation and conservation initiatives will play a pivotal role in shaping Ladakh’s future. “By striking a balance between tradition and modernity, we can safeguard Ladakh’s heritage, protect its ecology, and empower its people, ensuring that Ladakh emerges as a global model of sustainable growth rooted in cultural pride,” he affirmed.