Srinagar: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to expedite pending industrial reforms, finalise the new Industrial Policy and introduce a special one-time settlement (OTS) scheme for stressed industrial units following the recent expansion of the Council of Ministers.
Congratulating the newly inducted ministers and those assigned portfolios under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, FCIK called for coordinated action by the Finance, Power, Industries and Commerce, Forest, Agriculture, Health and Education departments to promote entrepreneurship, revive struggling businesses and generate employment.
The industry body urged Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary to prioritise finalisation of the new Industrial Policy and early notification of rules under the Ease of Doing Business Act. It said the policy should support existing enterprises, facilitate the revival of sick and stressed units, encourage fresh investment and improve local procurement and market access.
FCIK said entrepreneurs were awaiting clarity on the policy to make investment and expansion decisions, adding that commitments to industrial revival needed to be translated into timely decisions and effective implementation.
Welcoming Ali Mohammad Sagar’s assignment to Power Development and other departments, the federation called for reliable electricity supply to industrial units, resolution of tariff concerns, relief on accumulated power arrears and faster adoption of rooftop solar systems. It said affordable and dependable electricity was essential for the competitiveness of local manufacturing.
The federation also sought early financial concurrence for the proposed Industrial Policy, adequate budgetary allocations and timely disbursement of incentives and other pending dues from Finance Minister Javid Ahmad Dar.
It urged Dar to take up with Jammu and Kashmir Bank the launch of a special OTS scheme with coverage, concessions and eligibility provisions aligned with the State Bank of India’s OTS-20 scheme. FCIK said a transparent and non-discriminatory settlement mechanism could help viable enterprises resume operations, unlock productive assets and protect jobs.
Highlighting the role of agriculture in industrial development, FCIK called for closer coordination between agriculture production, cooperatives and local manufacturing, particularly in food processing, cold chains, packaging, storage and value addition. It also sought greater emphasis on these linkages in the next phase of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme.
Regarding Forest, Ecology and Environment, the federation urged Minister Altaf Ahmad Wani to expedite pending forest-related and environmental matters affecting businesses, simplify consent procedures and establish clear regulatory requirements while maintaining environmental safeguards.
FCIK also called on Health Minister Sakeena Masood Itoo and Education Minister Shamim Firdous to increase procurement from eligible local manufacturers and strengthen collaboration between educational institutions and industry to align skills with market requirements and encourage youth entrepreneurship.
The federation said Planning and allied departments under Mir Saifullah could support coordinated development and enterprise creation. It also called for using Javed Ahmad Rana’s responsibilities for Transport, Food and Civil Supplies, and Tribal Affairs to improve logistics, market access and livelihood opportunities for underserved communities.
FCIK urged the concerned ministers to hold an early joint interaction with industrial stakeholders and establish a time-bound programme for pending decisions, with clear departmental responsibilities and periodic reviews.
It said the Cabinet expansion should lead to tangible improvements in industrial operations, business revival and employment generation, and reaffirmed its willingness to engage constructively with the government on economic reforms.