SRINAGAR, Feb 21: Today, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah participated in the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Jammu & Kashmir Annual Session-2025, themed “AMAZING J&K: Aspiring For New Growth Goals”.
This event, presented by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) J&K Council, convened business leaders, industrialists, entrepreneurs, and various stakeholders to deliberate on strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing J&K’s economic growth and development, fostering the region’s competitiveness and business prospects via a robust and sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem.
In his address, the Chief Minister highlighted the importance of such engagements in boosting efficiency, competitiveness, and crafting business opportunities through a suite of specialized services and strategic global connections. It also serves as a significant platform for building consensus and networking on crucial issues.
The Chief Minister invited suggestions and valuable insights from the entrepreneurs and stakeholders present, aiming to integrate these into the forthcoming Jammu and Kashmir budget for the betterment of the public, as well as industries, tourism, and other sectors.
Emphasizing responsible entrepreneurial practices, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called for nurturing an economic ecosystem that guarantees sustainability throughout J&K.
While promoting increased investments in J&K, he asserted that such investments must adhere to regulations protecting agricultural land, suggesting safeguards similar to those in Himachal Pradesh, which, while implementing reasonable restrictions, also ensures job opportunities for local youth.
He noted the strict policy adopted by Himachal Pradesh in this regard and urged the formulation of a comparable policy in J&K.
The Chief Minister praised the resilience of J&K’s industries, acknowledging businesses that have thrived through difficult times without relying solely on government support. He stressed the necessity of promoting long-term sustainability for businesses, proposing a mechanism to monitor their viability beyond ten years.
On the subject of improving the ease of doing business, he advocated for a genuine single-window clearance system to tackle bureaucratic challenges, especially concerning clearances from forest and environment boards that impede manufacturing growth.
He encouraged stakeholders to share their suggestions and feedback for the upcoming budget, reaffirming the Government’s dedication to a policy framework that is friendly to industries.
Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Satish Sharma, who graced the event as Guest of Honour, also shared his thoughts. He stressed the need to rectify previous shortcomings and highlighted the importance of fostering sports tourism, health tourism, and border tourism while capitalizing on Kashmir’s legendary hospitality through innovative marketing tactics.
In addition, Madhav Singhania, Joint Managing Director & CEO of JK Cements Limited & Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry, Northern Region; Syed Junaid Altaf Group Executive Director of FIL Industries Pvt. Ltd. & Chairman of CII J&K; and Dr. M. A. Alim, Director of Package Design Industries & Vice Chairman of CII J&K were also present at the event.
