J&K moves to fast-track industrial reforms, mulls Ease of Doing Business Act

Ziraat Times News Desk

JAMMU, JUNE 19: As part of the ongoing consultative process to strengthen the Ease of Doing Business framework and finalise the revised Industrial Policy for Jammu & Kashmir, the Committee on Ease of Doing Business and Industrial Policy revision today held its second meeting with representatives of various industrial and trade associations from the Jammu Division at Udyog Bhawan, Jammu.

The meeting was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Finance Department, Shailendra Kumar, and attended by Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Vikramjit Singh; Zonal Head, J&K Bank, Ashok Gupta; Director, Industries & Commerce, Jammu, Dr. Arun Manhas; and Commissioner, State Taxes, P.K. Bhat, along with other senior officers.

Addressing the stakeholders, the ACS underscored the need for adopting a long-term and sustainable approach to industrial development in Jammu and Kashmir. He stressed the importance of promoting green energy and reducing the carbon footprint, stating that policy interventions and regulatory reforms must balance ease of doing business with public interest while ensuring inclusive economic growth.

Shailendra Kumar further informed that, in addition to the existing Single Window System, the government is working on introducing a dedicated Ease of Doing Business Act aimed at streamlining approvals and eliminating procedural delays in obtaining departmental clearances.

The meeting held detailed deliberations on suggestions and recommendations submitted by stakeholders during the previous round of consultations, with a focus on incorporating practical reforms in the proposed Industrial Policy.

The session saw participation from prominent industrial associations, including Chairman, Federation of Industries, Jammu Virender Jain; Chairman, PHDCCI-Jammu Rakesh Wazir; Chairman, Assocham J&K Council Manik Batra; Member National Executive, Laghu Udyog Bharti Parveen Pargal; President, Bari Brahmana Industrial Association Lalit Mahajan; ICC Chairman Rahul Sahai; Chairperson, FICCI-Flo Varsha Bansal; National Chairman of D2C1 India M.A. Alim; Chairman FADA Sanjay Agarwal; President Small and Tiny Industry Harvinder Singh; President CIC-J&K Rakesh Sharma; besides other prominent industrialists and senior officers of the Industries and Commerce Department.