‘Upgrade Srinagar Airport, frame new Industrial Policy’
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 6: A delegation of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) called on the Union Minister of Industry & Commerce, Piyush Goyal, at SKICC today and projected the local issues.
The delegation headed by president Javid Ahmad Tenga included senior vice president Ashaq Hussain Shangloo, junior vice president Fayaz Ahmad Punjabi, secretary general Faiz Ahmad Bakshi, joint secretary general Umar Nazir, Executive Committee members Muzaffar Majid, Mohammad Lateef Bhat, Mubashir Shaw and Sameer Ahsan from IT sector.
During the meeting, the KCCI delegation presented a detailed memorandum outlining several pressing economic challenges. Foremost among them was the issue of rising unemployment in the region. The Chamber emphasised the urgent need to create gainful employment opportunities through the focused promotion of Kashmir’s export potential.
A memorandum highlighting important issues facing various sectors and suggestions for their resolution was submitted to the Minister, who actively engaged in the discussion. The KCCI requested adequate warehousing space in Bharat Mart, Dubai, exclusively for Kashmiri exporters to help expand their footprint in the global markets.
They also stressed upon the inclusion of Jammu and Kashmir in national export promotion frameworks as a focus region under the Export Promotion Mission; issuance of region-specific guidelines for Jammu and Kashmir; declaration of Jammu and Kashmir as a focus state under the Market Access Initiative; reduction of GST on shawls and handicrafts from12 percent to 5 percent; removal of the 438-rupee cap under the RoSCTL Scheme and provision of full FOB-based incentives; establishment of a Pashmina testing laboratory in Srinagar, establishment of an Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Kashmir to ease export logistics and formulation of a new industrial policy, including a 25 percent reservation for local entrepreneurs; protection of Kashmir’s horticulture sector in international trade negotiations, including retention of import duties and setting a minimum import price of 90 rupees per kilogram on apples, walnuts, and almonds; promotion of the IT and electronics sector through participation in international trade fairs and inclusion in official delegations; upgradation of Srinagar Airport, including enhancement of cargo handling, terminal expansion at an expedited pace besides strengthening of tourism infrastructure in underdeveloped but high-potential destinations such as Bangus, Gurez, Doodhpathri, Tosamaidan, and others.
The Union Minister responded positively and assured the delegation that Kashmiri exporters would be provided space at highly concessional rates at Bharat Mart in Dubai and in upcoming warehousing hubs across Europe. He also directed officials to ensure adequate participation of KCCI in international trade fairs.
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