Srinagar, Jan 14: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has counseled Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) of Jammu and Kashmir to get ready for scaling up to their next levels in order to increase local productions and the level of industrial self-sufficiency.
A day-long workshop on “Industrial sector- the status and way forward” was organised by Association of Small Scale Unit Holders (ASSIU) Ganderbal on Saturday which was participated by a large number of industry leaders from all districts and estates across Kashmir valley. The workshop was presided over by President FCIK Shahid Kamili in presence of Advisory Council members Shakeel Qalander and Zahoor Ahmad Bhat.
While expressing regret over the unprecedented increase in the imports of industrial goods from other states, more so after the changes made in J&K’s procurement policy, the President FCIK emphasized the need for scaling up of existing industrial units with adoption of modern technologies and focusing on innovative practices for product development and marketing strategy besides inculcating competitive practices to gradually expand in their size and scale.
Reflecting on the bottlenecks in the growth and development of industry in J&K, Kamili said that the long spell of turbulent conditions, natural calamities and ‘unconcerned attitude of authorities’ has not only made the status of MSMEs stagnant but also stressful during past over three decades. He said that flawed industrial policies, low credit access, inertia to technological adoption, marketing and the perennial problems of delayed payments have added to the miseries of local enterprises and hampered their growth.
The President informed that a new hope had been generated after taking over the charge by incumbent Chief Secretary who has assured FCIK to look into resolution of all genuine issues confronting industrial functioning at the earliest.
Speaking on the occasion, former FCIK President Shakeel Qalander said that there was a dire need for single composite and comprehensive industrial policy in J&K which supported the MSMEs in effective transformation in their growth rather than incentivizing them to remain small. While championing for due share to the local enterprises from public procurements, Qalander underscored the huge potential for export of agriculture and horticulture based products nationally and internationally.
Zahoor Ahmad Bhat in his presentation said that scaling up programme for enterprises augured with FCIK constitution that, among other things, laid emphasis on working for increased local production of industrialized products in an attempt to protect local jobs and sustainability of J&K industry. He made elaborate presentation on other provisions of the constitution incorporated for integrity and growth of MSMEs.
Earlier welcoming the participants, ASSIU President Shabir Mirani informed that industry was facing severe hardships on account of deficiencies and confusions in the industrial policies and regulations.
“It is in this context, that the workshop has been conducted by our association inviting industrial leaders from across Kashmir valley particularly the Advisory Council of FCIK to guide entrepreneurs on their forward movement.” Said Mirani.
While expressing regret over dearth of organised industrial estates in district Ganderbal, with only one small estate over 106 kanals of land, Mirani hoped that FCIK would help in removing infrastructural bottlenecks which were keeping the huge number of educated youth away from taking up entrepreneurship as means of their livelihood in the district. “FCIK is requested to pursue created of a large estate over huge chunk of land as small estates does not serve purpose” added Mirani.
Kumar Ji Wanchoo, Syed Afaq Qadiri, Javaid Ahmad Bhat, G. M Reshi, Farooq Ahmad, Syed Fazal Illahi, Rafiq Ahmad, M.Y Techo, Ghulam Mohiuddin, Nazir Ahmad Mir, Abdul Raheem Sofi, Masood Wani, Mohammad Imran, Syed Haamid Chashoo, Sheikh Basharat, Noor Mohammad, Sajad Baba, Wahid Chishti, Manzoor Ahmad Qadiri, Farooq Ahmad Qadiri and others made their presentation in the workshop. While undertaking to foster unity amoung entrepreneurs of entire Kashmir, they reposed full faith and confidence on FCIK constitution that bonded them all under a foolproof system.
Dr. Zain ul Abideen conducted the workshop and presented vote of thanks.
