Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 30: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the unpredictable law and order situation in the State was the biggest impediment in attracting investors.
“The biggest burden, they (investors) consider in this regard, is the unpredictable law and order situation in the State,” Omar said during an interaction with students of Amar Singh College here.
He said shutdowns and incidents like Gool firing, which marred peace and tranquillity, made investors apprehensive about launching business projects in the State, particularly in Kashmir valley.
Omar said import of raw materials from outside the State and exporting the finished goods from the State to the outside markets also made businessmen hesitant to invest.
The Chief Minister said another major disadvantage is the ‘image’ of the State being presented by the media to the outside world.
“When media magnifies even minor law and order problems and smaller disturbances, which otherwise exist in every part of the world, out of proportion, the image of the State progressing towards peace and development gets tarnished,” he said.
Omar said his Government, however, is making all out efforts to provide secure, productive and beneficial environment for outside investors to be partners in the economic development of the State.
“At the end of the day, businessmen count profits and this is the only objective they have to make investment in any part of the world,” he said, adding that for this, they require calm and peaceful atmosphere which has received severe jolt during the 25 years of disturbance.
Omar impressed upon the youth to rely on their potential and ability to revolutionise the State’s economy and become agents of socio-economic transformation.
“How long the State would wait for outside big businesses to invest here? We have to steer our economy on our own terms and conditions and by our own means,” he said.
Omar said his Government was making efforts to rope in outside investors to partner in economic growth and employment generation in the State and also encouraging locals in a big way to achieve the cherished goal of industrialisation and entrepreneurship development.
The Chief Minister said entrepreneurship development in agriculture and allied sectors, tourism, handicrafts, Information Technology and Science Technology has tremendous potential.
He asked the youth to come forward and prove their mettle in these fields and play an important role in achieving economic independence and ensuring holistic development.
The Chief Minister said the private sector is also being encouraged to open job-oriented institutes in the State so that the trend of acquiring traditional education like graduation and post graduation in the subjects which do not promise meaningful and gainful employment is improved upon.
He said the State has talent, quality, climate, geography and potential for opening institutions like those in Pune, Bangalore and other parts of the country.
“We are trying our best to harness this advantage,” he said.
Earlier, Omar launched the Institute of Mathematical Sciences in the newly constructed complex in Amar Singh College.
The institute aims to conduct research in mathematical sciences and dissemination of findings to the related sectors.
It will link various institutions of the country and collaborate in research, besides training young scientists and equipping them with knowledge of tools and techniques for applied sciences.
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