SRINAGAR: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for a café house and the renovation of an existing guest house at the Government Silk Weaving Factory in Rajbagh, Srinagar.
The project, to be executed by the Jammu and Kashmir Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited (JK SICOP), aims to improve facilities at the factory premises and generate additional revenue for Jammu and Kashmir Industries Limited (JKI), officials said.
MLA Lal Chowk Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed Pardesi and Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Vikramjit Singh, were among those present at the event.
During the visit, Choudhary inspected the JKI showroom at the factory, where products made from Kashmiri mulberry silk and local wool were displayed. He appreciated the efforts to preserve traditional weaving skills and promote products linked to the region’s textile heritage.
Addressing officials, the Deputy Chief Minister said the project was part of the government’s efforts to modernise and make better use of existing industrial assets while strengthening public sector undertakings. He asked JKI officials to improve production and sales to support the organisation’s growth and sustainability.
Choudhary also stressed the importance of promoting local crafts, saying they contribute to economic growth and employment generation in the region.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed Pardesi highlighted the importance of preserving and upgrading the infrastructure of the Government Silk Weaving Factory, describing it as an important institution for the promotion of Kashmir’s traditional silk industry.
Commissioner Secretary Vikramjit Singh said employees play a key role in the performance of public sector organisations and urged staff to work with integrity and responsibility.
Managing Director JKI, Managing Director JK SICOP and other senior officers of the Industries and Commerce Department attended the programme.
