Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reviews progress and directs measures to boost investment and jobs in J&K. Photo/Official
SRINAGAR, Sept 19: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today directed the Industries & Commerce Department to adopt a proactive and inclusive strategy to strengthen Jammu and Kashmir’s industrial ecosystem, prioritising employment generation, sustainability and competitiveness.
Early intervention to revive MSMEs
Omar stressed the need for early identification and handholding of distressed but revivable MSME units, saying timely support can prevent closures and preserve large-scale employment potential. He asked officials to put mechanisms in place to detect struggling units so minimal government intervention can restore their operations.
Capital expenditure, schemes and land policy
The Chief Minister expressed concern over slow capital expenditure this fiscal, particularly under PMEGP and REGP, and asked the department to at least match last year’s pace. He reviewed the New Central Sector Scheme (NCSS), assessed claim-wise progress and directed completion of targets under the scheme.
Omar called for prioritising industries that have ready access to raw materials or a clear local market for finished goods. On land policy, he urged expedited allotment of industrial plots to units that have deposited premiums, and ordered fast-tracking of 46 new Industrial Estates and the development of existing estates to ensure productive use of industrial land.
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Ease of doing business and investor feedback
Seeking a sharper business climate, the Chief Minister asked officials to explore measures beyond national benchmarks to improve the Ease of Doing Business in J&K. He asked the department to design incentives aligned to the new GST slabs and to gather structured feedback from firms applying under the Single Window Clearance system to close operational gaps.
GI certification and crafts sector
Omar also highlighted the need to strengthen GI certification and testing capacity for handicrafts, warning that limited facilities could undermine the benefit of GI tagging for local artisans and dealers.
“Industrial development in J&K must not only attract investment but also ensure it translates into jobs, livelihoods, and sustainable growth for our youth and artisans,” he said.
Progress, jobs and sectoral highlights
Commissioner/Secretary Industries & Commerce Vikramjit Singh presented progress figures: investment realisation in FY 2024-25 stood at Rs 4,145 crore — nearly ten times the pre-2021 average — while Rs 4,001 crore worth of projects have been grounded in the current fiscal up to August, generating 5,111 jobs in the formal industrial sector.
The presentation noted MSMEs contribute about 8% to J&K’s GDP and employ over 10.88 lakh people, including 15% women. Initiatives cited included MSME Health Clinics, large-scale Udyam registration drives across 4,914 blocks and capacity-building under the RAMP programme.
Startup registrations have risen from 69 in 2020 to 1,127 in 2025, with a tilt toward technology and services; a Startup Summit in collaboration with Startup India, MEITY and SIDBI is planned in Srinagar in October. The presentation also highlighted 4.39 lakh registered artisans and exports rising to Rs 1,163 crore in 2023-24; Srinagar's recognition as a World Crafts City and the launch of a QR-based certification mechanism for craft products were noted as landmark developments.
Source: Agencies
Labels: Industry, Economy, Jammu and Kashmir
Tags: #Industry #MSME #Investment #Jobs #JammuAndKashmir
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