Will explore purchase preference for J&K’s local inc: Piyush Goyal

Srinagar, April, 05: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that suggestions of purchase preference on GeM portal could be considered at the local level in J&K as ‘special case’ considering the geographical location and high terrain.
Addressing a press conference at Mumbai on the landmark achievement of GeM crossing Rs 2 lakh crore procurement of goods and services in the financial year 2022-23, he said the provision of purchase preference can be explored at local level as a special case in the far-off places like J&K and northeast region.
About sharing sensitive information related to the defence sector in the public domain, Goyal said before any order is received from any Defence Organisation, all things are being addressed.’
“The information related to defence items depends on the Defense Organisation, whether they want to put it in public domain or not. The information related to some equipment is easily available in the public domain while some deals are being done secretly”, he said.
“I am confident that GeM will grow faster, the future is very bright. I would like to appeal to more and more vendors to join GeM so that they too get a chance to participate in the government procurement process”, he also said.
Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) said that the government’s e marketplace or GEM portal, purchase preference should be given to local industrial units in J&K, so that local business should be boosted.
KCCI President, Javid Ahmad Bhat (Tenga) told Rising Kashmir that on GEM Portal, there should be a purchase preference option in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, so that local industries would not collapse.
“We are meeting LG Manoj Sinha in the next few days and the issue of GEM portal will be raised. It is in our agenda and we will continue to pitch for it, so that our youth will not further suffer anymore,” he said.
Javid said local youth should be given more opportunities and considering the demand, KCCI will take this matter to a higher level.
“Government should come forward to support Small and Medium Industries in the region, otherwise they will be forced to close their operations in the UT,” he said.
Government e Marketplace (GeM) is an online platform for public procurement in India that was envisaged by the Prime Minister.
The initiative was launched on August 9, 2016 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry with the objective of creating an inclusive, efficient, and transparent platform for the buyers and sellers to carry out procurement activities in a fair and competitive manner.
In June 2022, the Administrative Council decided to close the stationery department in Jammu and Kashmir and transfer its infrastructure and manpower to other government departments, as per need, for their optimal utilisation.
The decision has been taken in consideration of the fact that the General Financial Rules 2017 mandate the purchase of common use goods and services from the GEM Portal. Accordingly, all departments are making purchases through the GEM Portal, thus making the department of stationery and office supplies defunct and non-functional.