SRINAGAR, FEB 21 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today attended the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Jammu and Kashmir Annual Session-2025, themed “AMAZING J&K: Aspiring For New Growth Goals,” in Srinagar.
The event, organized by the CII J&K Council, brought together prominent business leaders, industrialists, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders to discuss strategies for boosting Jammu and Kashmir’s economic growth, competitiveness, and business potential. The session aimed to foster a resilient industrial ecosystem and promote sustainable entrepreneurship in the region.
Addressing the session, Chief Minister Abdullah emphasized the importance of such engagements in enhancing efficiency, competitiveness, and creating business opportunities. He highlighted that these interactions are crucial for building consensus and fostering global linkages in key sectors, including industries and tourism.
The Chief Minister also sought valuable suggestions from participating entrepreneurs and stakeholders to be considered for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir budget. He stressed that the aim should be to create an environment conducive to both public welfare and sectoral growth, with a focus on industries, tourism, and other key sectors.
Omar Abdullah specifically called for expanding investments in the region while ensuring that investments are regulated by laws that protect agricultural land. He cited Himachal Pradesh as an example, which has enacted stringent policies to safeguard land while attracting investments and ensuring job creation for the local youth. “We need a similar approach in Jammu and Kashmir to balance development with local interests,” he said.
The Chief Minister also acknowledged the resilience of J&K’s industries, praising businesses that have weathered challenges without over-relying on government subsidies. He stressed the importance of ensuring long-term sustainability for businesses and proposed mechanisms to assess their viability beyond a ten-year period.
On improving the ease of doing business in J&K, Abdullah advocated for a genuine single-window clearance system, addressing bureaucratic hurdles, particularly in obtaining environmental and forest clearances, which hinder manufacturing growth in the region.
In his remarks, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Satish Sharma, who attended as Guest of Honour, emphasized the need to address past shortcomings and highlighted the potential of sports tourism, health tourism, and border tourism. He also stressed the importance of leveraging Kashmir’s hospitality industry through innovative marketing strategies.
Madhav Singhania, Joint Managing Director & CEO of JK Cements Limited and Chairman of CII 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 session.
