FLO Amritsar, under the leadership of Chairperson Tannya Khanna, hosted Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, wife of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Punjab, S. Bhagwant Mann, for a high-level engagement centred on Navras: Kala & Virasat. The visit was organised in collaboration with the Amritsar District Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ADCCI) and the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO).
The programme brought together women leaders, industry representatives, members of the FLO Executive Committee and civic leadership. The heritage trail included visits to The Partition Museum, the Metamorphosis sculpture by Phaneendra Nath Chaturvedi at Le Méridien Amritsar and a monumental sculpture by renowned artist Thota Vaikuntam at Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels. These works reflected FICCI FLO Amritsar’s focus on visual arts, public engagement and the integration of cultural heritage into the city’s contemporary identity.
The central agenda was Amritsar’s proposed nomination as a World Craft City by the World Crafts Council. Tannya Khanna presented the case for global recognition of the city’s living craft traditions, highlighting Thathera metalwork, Phulkari, wood carving, chess-piece making and traditional textiles. The presentation outlined the support sought from the Punjab Government, including coordination with the international jury, administrative assistance and access to craft records, artisan information and industry data. It was clarified that the request was for facilitation and institutional support, rather than financial funding.
The session also showcased FICCI FLO Amritsar’s NAVRAS vision, connecting heritage preservation with cultural tourism, public art, traditional Baithaks and opportunities for craftswomen. The discussion highlighted how improved visibility, contemporary design and better market access could help strengthen artisan livelihoods and support women-led enterprise.
Dr. Gurpreet Kaur responded positively to the vision presented and showed interest in the potential of the initiative to bring Punjab’s artisans to a global platform. The engagement provided an opportunity to place a focused development proposal before state-level leadership and reinforce the connection between heritage preservation and economic opportunity.