CM Omar’s Mission Delhi: Investments, jobs and new ideas for J&K

15 November 2024

Ziraat Times Special Report

New Delhi: In a major effort to attract investments and create job opportunities for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is engaging in high-profile meetings with key figures in business and governance during his ongoing visit to Delhi.

Sources close to the Chief Minister told Ziraat Times that this mission is guided by his vision of harnessing private sector potential to address the unemployment crisis in Jammu & Kashmir.

Omar’s outreach has already seen him meet with several prominent personalities in India’s business and political landscape, including Ajit Dhawan, Executive Vice Chairman of Hindustan Construction Company (HCC); Abhijit Basu, CEO of Smartex Cognitive; Avinash Pawar, Divisional Manager of Small Scale Industries Corporation Ltd. under the Ministry of MSME, Government of India; and Aaley Mohammad Iqbal, Deputy Mayor of Delhi.

He also have had separate meetings with President and the Vice President.

These interactions, as per sources, revolve around exploring investment opportunities, building business partnerships, and crafting pathways for economic development in Jammu & Kashmir.

Speaking about his meetings, Omar Abdullah said, “I had the privilege of meeting a number of influential political figures and businessmen who reached out to me. Together, we engaged in fruitful discussions on potential areas of collaboration to work towards the betterment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Ajit Dhawan of HCC is among the major corporate leaders he met, which, sources say, is guided by his renewed ambition to focus on infrastructure development in J&K. Hindustan Construction Company, known for its work in major infrastructure projects across the country, including J&K, is expected to bring expertise and investment in the form of new and expanded construction projects that would not only improve connectivity but also provide employment to local youth.

Omar’s discussions with Abhijit Basu, CEO of Smartex Cognitive, was focused on possibilities of roping in the technology sector to J&K in a meaningful manner.

Smartex Cognitive, a company focused on artificial intelligence and cognitive technology, is said to offer immense potential in nurturing a tech ecosystem in Jammu & Kashmir.

“Our educated youth population could be trained and employed in high-tech jobs, offering an alternative to traditional industries and providing much-needed employment in the digital economy”, a source said.

Additionally, his meeting with Avinash Pawar from the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) was meant to find new creative ideas to leverage the power of small-scale industries in J&K.

The MSME sector has proven to be the backbone of India’s economy, especially in job creation. By reinvigorate MSMEs in Jammu & Kashmir, Omar Abdullah aims to lay the foundation for local entrepreneurs to flourish and for artisans and craftsmen to gain wider market access, further supported by government-backed schemes and loans, sources said.

One source noted, “Omar is working tirelessly to create job opportunities for J&K youth and is expected to unveil new ideas and initiatives for job creation soon. He understands the importance of building relationships with key people outside J&K and is keen on bringing their expertise and investments to the region.”

The push towards private-sector involvement is a marked departure from traditional dependency on government jobs in Jammu & Kashmir. By inviting businesses to invest, Omar aims to create a robust job market that would not only engage the youth but also curb migration of talent to other states. His emphasis on investment-driven growth and job creation could mark the beginning of a new economic chapter for Jammu & Kashmir, informed source said.