Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday, October 11, said that India should view trade restrictions as an opportunity rather than a setback, asserting that if one country imposes tariffs, the state will open trade with ten others.
Speaking at the 49th International Kaleen Mela and 4th Carpet Expo in Bhadohi, the Chief Minister assured exporters and entrepreneurs that the state government would provide full support to the carpet industry. The event, reported by ANI, brought together manufacturers, traders, and international buyers from across the world.
Turning challenges into opportunities
“Whenever challenges arise, they bring opportunities with them. The US has imposed tariffs, but that is just one country’s decision. We are moving rapidly towards free trade agreements with the UAE, the UK, and other nations, which will open new avenues for our industries,” Yogi said.
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He announced that a high-level committee would be set up to monitor the effects of global tariffs on the state’s carpet and handicraft sectors and to ensure quick policy responses.
The Chief Minister noted that the carpet industry, once on the verge of collapse, had been revived over the past decade. “Before 2014, this industry was nearly dying but today Bhadohi has become a symbol of Uttar Pradesh’s economic strength,” he said.
He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for transforming the carpet clusters of Bhadohi, Mirzapur and Varanasi and said the Bhadohi Carpet Expo Mart had become the centre of this revival.
Yogi highlighted the role of the One District, One Product (ODOP) and MSME schemes in strengthening local industries. “Under ODOP, Bhadohi carpets, Moradabad brassware, Firozabad glass and Varanasi silk have received new global recognition. When we launched ODOP in 2017, no one imagined Uttar Pradesh’s exports would exceed Rs 2 lakh crore but that is our reality today,” he said.Â
He added that the carpet sector is not merely an economic activity but a living tradition that sustains lakhs of families. “The carpet industry provides employment to nearly 25-30 lakh people and contributes around Rs 17,000 crore in exports every year. It is also a strong platform for women’s empowerment, enabling many to work from home and achieve financial independence,” the Chief Minister said. He urged entrepreneurs to expand their presence in international markets and assured that the government would facilitate growth through infrastructure, skill training and market access.
Expanding trade frontiers
“Our goal is not just to protect the industry but to take it to new heights,” Yogi said. “When one country imposes tariffs, we will open pathways to ten more. This is the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat – to turn every challenge into an opportunity.” He also announced that swadeshi fairs will be organised across all 75 districts during Diwali, featuring special stalls for Bhadohi carpets to promote local craftsmanship.
