National Level; Buyer-Seller meet soon to provide marketing platform

Srinagar,October 9 (Scoop News) –J&K State Government has approached the Centre to extend the existing Industrial policy which is scheduled to expire in 2012, for further few years as Industrialists of the State could not get benefits of the package fully sofar.

Announcing this at the inaugural function of 56th Industrial and Handicrafts Exhibition at Kashmir Haat, the Minister for Industries and commerce,  Surjit Singh Slathia said that a large number of Industrialists have represented for extension of the existing Industrial policy beyond 2012 so that its  benefits could be availed fully.  The Minister while underscoring the significance of Industries in employment generation said that Government would organise National Level Handloom Expos and Buyers-Seller meets to provide better marketing channels to the artisans to sell their products.

 Salathia said that J&K has better potential for Industrial growth particularly in fruit, mineral, wood and leather Industries which have raw material available in abundance locally.  He said the Government endeavours to provide platform to the artisans and Industrialists to sell their products at better remunerative price.  He called upon the entrepreneurs to come forward in a big way to venture in Industrial sector adding that a hassle free mechanism has been put in place to provide them Industrial plots in various industrial Estates of the State.  He said a lot of plots are available for allotment in Industrial Growth Centre (IGC) Lassipora adding that the Growth Centre is being connected to the National Highway through an easy approach road.  In addition, the work on III phase of the Industrial Estate, Khanmoh has also been taken up to accommodate more entrepreneurs.

The Minister also called upon all the stake holders to contribute in maintaining peace in the state which was imperative for inviting big investments from the Industrialists of the country.  He said Government has planned to organise an International Handloom Expo in the month of May adding that the annual Industrial and Handicrafts Exhibitions in the Kashmir Haat  shall henceforth be organized in the Month of May every year to dove tail it with the peak tourist season in Kashmir.  He said these events shall provide an opportunity to the artisans and Industrialists to interact with each other and share experience to boost sale of their products.

The Director Industries and Commerce, Kashmir,  Meraj-Ud-Din Kenu in his welcome address   said that about 853 incoming generating units have been set-up in Kashmir during last two years providing employment to about 5761 un-employed   youths directly.  An investment to the tune of Rs. 106.72 Crore has been made in these Industries.  He said the entrepreneurs have been provided 353 kanals of land for setting up of their units.  He said under PEGP, 1315 un-employed youths were provided jobs.  They were provided Rs. 84.42 Crore by various Banks. He said the Industrialists of the Kashmir were provided incentives amounting to Rs. 11.87  Crore under the Central and State Industrial  policies.   Kenu said  LOC  trade from  Salamabad  Uri is  picking up adding that trade worth Rs. 572.12 Crore was undertaken during last two years from both sides. He said  Trade facilitation Centre is  under construction at a   cost of Rs. 10   Crore to boost the LOC trade.

The function, among a large number of entrepreneurs, artisans and representatives of trade and Industry, was also attended by a large number of officers of  the state Administration including commissioner/secretary  Industries and Commerce  Umand  Narula, Secretary, Revenue, Kach Isfandyar, Deputy commissioner, Srinagar, Meraj Ahmad Kakroo, M.D JKI, Javed Iqbal, Director industries, Jammu,  S. Dua, Director Handicrafts,  Muzzafar Hussain, M.D JK Cements,  Mushtaq  Ahmad, M.D State Handloom Development Corporations,  Showket Ali, President,  Federation Chamber of Industries, Kashmir (FCIK), Engineer Zahoor Ahmad etc.