Advisor Baseer Khan reviews I&C Dept

Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan  held a detailed review meeting of the Industries and Commerce Department here with an eye on strengthening the investment ecosystem in the Union Territory of J&K.

Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce, Director Industries Kashmir and other officers attended the meeting through video conferencing from Kashmir. The officers who attended the meeting at Jammu include, Director Industries and Commerce Jammu, Managing Director J&K Trade Promotion Organisation, Managing Director SIDCO, Managing Director SICOP and other officers from the department.

At the outset, the Advisor exhorted officers to prioritize the aspirations of the entrepreneurs while putting in concerted efforts for making J&K the most investor friendly Union Territory. He said that strenuous and coordinated efforts have to be made at all levels to encourage and facilitate people who want to join the wagon of industrial sector here.

He said that land development and allotment policy has given a shot in the arm of the industries department and will pave way for a lot of activities in the industrial sector here.

He said that everybody is enthusiastic about the new industrial policy and directed the officers that single window clearance facility is provided to Industries and entrepreneurs in real sense with a commitment to promote Ease of Doing Business by streamlining different processes and approvals required to establish and operate a business. He also asked them to focus on e-commerce and creation of avenues and market availability of products.

The Advisor also exhorted upon the officers to do proper mapping of the encroachment happened on industrial land and take immediate measures in tandem with the district administration to retrieve the occupied land.

Regarding the revival of sick industrial units here, the Advisor directed the officers to formulate a comprehensive policy for the revival and rejuvenation of those units which have the potential.

The Advisor also asked the officers to prepare job charts for the District Managers and directed them to be proactive at different levels. He directed that the DMs should move and resort to serious kind of interacations, seminars, disclose and make people understand the new policies of government, pursue cases of entrepreneurs at different levels and play the role of a facilitator. He said that they should present a fortnightly dairy to the Directorate so that we remain connected to the ground and abreast about the problems faced by the people.

The Advisor also said that we should be clear and updated with regard to the potential of a particular district which provides the framework for value chain development and alignment of support infrastructure. He directed the officers to Identify District wise specific investment sectors in consultation with the various stakeholders of that particular district.

Emphasising the need for education and awareness campaigns at the district levels, he directed the officers to develop a group that will connect with the department and indicate the market surplus. He said that this will liberate the people, associated with different trades, from the clutches of middlemen and the product will be taken directly from the source thus opening huge market opening for everybody.

Advisor also emphasised on the observance of SOPs regarding the Covid and said all guidelines issued by the government from time to time have to be followed in letter and spirit.

Director Industries Jammu gave a detailed presentation about the new industrial estates, new land availability, incentives sanctioned to industrial units and achievements. She informed that 780 numer of units have shown interest to invest 30156 cr in JK and project worth Rs 600 Cr ready for grounding. Similarly Director Industries Kashmir also highlighted the achievements made in Kashmir division and said that work is on the right path.

Managing Director, Jammu & Kashmir Trade Promotion Organisation also gave a detailed presentation highlighting the steps taken focused on decentralised institutional mechanisms that promote trade and branding of exportable products.