Srinagar, February 10, – Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has said that the challenge of providing jobs to thousands of educated and skilled youth can be met only by promoting industrial sector. This can be achieved by roping in big business houses for investing in Jammu and Kashmir, he added. "
A suitable atmosphere to welcome industrialists in the State and make them launch valuable ventures for the economic prosperity of the State is the need of the hour", Mr. Abdullah said here today while laying the foundation stone of the first Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) at Rangreth. He said that during his recent interaction with business groups and industrialists at Mumbai, he has urged them to participate in the development process in Jammu and Kashmir and help develop industrial sector here.
During the recent visit of the Chief Minister to Mumbai, the ESSAR Group had announced launching of two BPOs, one each in Srinagar and Jammu.
The Chief Minister appreciated the ESSAR Group for coming forward and announcing the two BPO units at a cost of Rs. 100 crore to generate jobs for 4,000 youth. He said within a period of two days, all the formalities were cleared by the State Government regarding the setting up of these units as a result of which the ESSAR Group is here today to launch its first unit of the prestigious project.
The launch of the BPO, Abdullah said, would pave for the other business houses to come to Srinagar and Jammu for starting their ventures.
"We have to prove ourselves best hosts and render fullest cooperation to investors to encourage them for investing here", the Chief Minister said, adding that growth and development of industrial sector at the district-level has also to be focused to ensure integrated and balanced development of industry in the State.
Abdullah said that in the recent Assembly elections, people have voted for peace and positive change to ensure all-round development and jobs for youth. Government has initiated multi-pronged strategy to address problems confronting the people and open vistas for employment opportunities for youth.
The Chief Minister referred to the limited job opportunities available in the Government sector and said the exchequer was heavily burdened with pay bills. He said the Government would explore every possibility of absorbing unemployed youth in the available vacancies in the State services. However, he made it clear that the answer to the unemployment problem is in generating more and more economic activities across the State and promoting trade and industry on large scale.
The Chief Minister called peaceful atmosphere and proper work culture basic ingredients for the development of industries. He said the Government and public have to work in unison to generate ideal work culture to woo investors, asking employees to take a leaf from the Japanese work culture.
Abdullah alluded to the vast potential of tourism sector in J&K for generating economic activities and job opportunities and said that the opening of SrinagarAirport for International traffic would help in a big way to facilitate the inflow of tourists from world over.
Later, talking to media persons on the sidelines of the function, the Chief Minister said that besides focusing on generation of hydel power, the State Government is also working out ways and means to generate thermal power. He said the Central Government has been approached to facilitate Jammu and Kashmir open yet another avenue of meeting electricity needs in the State.
The Minister for Industries and Commerce, S. S. Slathia spelt out the measures the State Government is taking for the development of industries in the State. He said various concessions and facilities are available to the investors for investing in Jammu and Kashmir. He expressed hope that other business houses would come soon here to launch their projects.
The Chairman, ESSAR Group, Shashi Ruia appreciated the State Government for providing cordial atmosphere for the launch of the project in the valley. He said they have found friendly environment in Srinagar for industrial investment and their efforts would be to complete the unit as soon as possible.
Former Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, legislators, Mayor, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, Chairman and Managing Director, ESSAR Group, Prashant Ruai were present on the occasion among others.