J&K could not get benefits of central industrial policy

Srinagar: Admitting that Jammu and Kashmir could not get full benefits of the existing central industrial policy, the state government has now approached the Centre to extend it for few more years.

The state government has approached the Centre to extend the existing Industrial policy which is scheduled to expire in next year, for further few years as industrialists of the state could not get benefits of the package fully so far, the Minister for Industries and commerce Surjit Singh Slathia said.
Announcing this at the inaugural function of 56th Industrial and Handicrafts Exhibition at Kashmir Haat here last evening, he said that a large number of industrialists have represented for extension of the existing Industrial policy beyond 2012 so that its benefits could be availed fully.
The minister, while underscoring the significance of Industries in employment generation, said that the government would organise National Level Handloom Expos and Buyers-Seller meets to provide better marketing channels to the artisans to sell their products.
Mr Salathia said that J&K has better potential for Industrial growth particularly in fruit, mineral, wood and leather Industries which have raw material available in abundance locally.
He said the government endeavours to provide platform to the artisans and industrialists to sell their products at better remunerative price.
He called upon the entrepreneurs to come forward in a big way to venture in Industrial sector adding that a hassle free mechanism has been put in place to provide them Industrial plots in various industrial Estates of the state.
He said a lot of plots are available for allotment in Industrial Growth Centre (IGC) Lassipora adding that the Growth Centre is being connected to the National Highway through an easy approach road.
In addition, he said, the work on III phase of the Industrial Estate, Khanmoh has also been taken up to accommodate more entrepreneurs.