*Visits Chamber House, interacts with women entrepreneurs
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 3: Terming the local entrepreneurs as an important component of economy, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today said Government will initiate all steps for encouraging local enterprise and strengthening local industry in the State.
Interacting with representatives of industrialists and unit holders at Bari Brahmana Industrial Estate after inaugurating several units, the Chief Minister assured the business community that Government is keen to see the local business and industry flourish in the State. She impressed upon the industry leaders to work for creating more jobs in the State and deliver their responsibilities towards the State and the society.
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She said Jammu & Kashmir is perhaps the first State in the country to roll out incentives under GST and the Government is committed to do more for enhancing the scope and scale of business activity in the State.
Ministers, Chander Parkash Ganga and Dr. Haseeb Drabu also addressed the gathering. Minister of State for Industries & Commerce, Asiea Naqash; Principal Secretary, Finance, Navin Choudhary; Commissioner-Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Shailendra Kumar; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Hemant Sharma; IGP, Jammu zone, SDS Jamwal; Deputy Commissioner, Samba, Sheetal Nanda and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.
Later, the Chief Minister visited the newly constructed Chamber House at Railhead, Jammu where she had an extensive interaction session with women entrepreneurs of Jammu who apprised her about their problems and difficulties.
The Chief Minister asked the women entrepreneurs to come forward and take benefit of the several incentives and schemes meant for them. She said soon the Entrepreneurship Development Institute would be having a separate cell for women entrepreneurs from where they can get all the requisite support, assistance and guidance.
On the occasion, Minister for Finance, Labour & Employment, Dr. Haseeb Drabu assured to look into the possibility of establishing potable washrooms for female workers at all the construction sites in the State.
Speaker, Kavinder Gupta; Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Prakash Ganga; Minister of State for Industries & Commerce, Asiea Naqash; Principal Secretary, Finance, Navin Choudhary; Commissioner-Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Shailendra Kumar; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Hemant Sharma; President, Jammu Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Rakesh Gupta besides a number of women entrepreneurs and other senior officers were present on the occasion.
Earlier, Chief Minister laid the foundation of a Silk Factory and Filature unit at Bari Brahmana. She also inaugurated the Government Joinery Mills and inspected the work at the EDI complex there.
To be built at a cost of Rs. 16.84 crore, the Government Silk Factory would be constructed in five months.
Mehbooba Mufti also laid the foundation of Government Silk Filatures to be built at a cost of Rs. 6.64 crore which too would be completed in the coming five months.
With the setting up of these units, first of its kind in Jammu province, the silk weaving facility from cocoon to yarn would be made available in Jammu province.
The Chief Minister later inaugurated the new Government Joinery Mills and showroom and display centre which she had laid foundation of in July last year. She went round various sections of the Joinery Mills and appreciated the products being manufactured there.
The Chief Minister, on the occasion, was also briefed about a Silk revival plan by Commissioner-Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Shailendra Kumar.
The plan envisages revival of Raj Bagh, Solina, Nowshera, Bari Brahmana and other silk rearing units in the coming years. As per the plan, the Government would be infusing adequate funds into the revival of these units to generate a final produce of 10 lac metres of silk per annum in the State.
During the visit, Mehbooba Mufti also inspected the on-going work at the Jammu campus of Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) at the Industrial Estate. The foundation of the campus was also laid by her on July 09, 2017. To be built over a cost of Rs. 82.89 crore, the Jammu campus of JKEDI is scheduled to be completed in three phases spread over a period of three years. It would have all the facilities like incubation centre, hostel, library and other interactive facilities for young entrepreneurs.
On the occasion, Director, EDI, Dr. M I Parray briefed the Chief Minister about the progress on the project. He informed her that the Institute will be made operational from the new campus soon.
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