CM Urges Balanced Growth, Calls for Stronger Industrial Investment in Jammu Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday urged industry leaders to complement Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism success with robust industrial growth, calling the region a viable and promising investment destination.

Speaking at the 4th meeting of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Northern Regional Council 2025-26 in Srinagar, Abdullah acknowledged that while tourism has drawn considerable attention in recent months, industrial development has lagged behind. He assured stakeholders that the government is determined to strengthen the investment ecosystem and address existing gaps.

“Tourism is one part of our growth story, but the other part that requires equal attention is industrialisation,” Abdullah told business leaders. “Jammu and Kashmir remains an attractive place for investment despite challenges, and we are committed to making it easier and more rewarding for industry to operate here.”

The Chief Minister outlined investments flowing into industrial hubs such as Kathua, Samba, Bari Brahmana in Jammu and Lassipora in Kashmir, highlighting ongoing government incentives and reforms. He admitted shortcomings in the single-window clearance system, directing the Industries Department to engage directly with investors to streamline the process.

Abdullah underscored JK’s comparative advantages—affordable land and electricity, GST reimbursement benefits, and availability of skilled labour—while encouraging investors to look beyond subsidies and focus on sectors with inherent strengths, including agriculture, horticulture and dairy. He pointed out that only 4 percent of milk in Kashmir is processed, compared to 80 percent in Gujarat, terming it a “ready-made opportunity for value addition.”

On peace and security, the Chief Minister maintained that the region is “calm, peaceful, and open for business,” stressing that incidents such as the one in Pahalgam were aberrations. He linked industrialisation and tourism as key drivers for tackling unemployment, urging private sector involvement to generate new jobs.

Calling for candid feedback, Abdullah asked CII members to share their experiences and challenges, assuring that the government would act on genuine concerns.

The event, attended by leading industrialists, also featured addresses by CII Northern Region Chairperson Anjali Singh, CII Delhi State Council Chairman Puneet Kaura, Vice Chairman CII JK Council MA Alim and CII Northern Region Director Rachna Jindal.

Abdullah thanked CII for organising the meeting in Srinagar and reiterated his government’s commitment to facilitate investment, promote value addition, and build a sustainable industrial ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir.