JAMMU: The Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Sajad Ahmed Kichloo has  urged for massive infrastructural support for facilitating growth of Industry and Commerce, which was imperative for employment generation and economic emancipation of the State.
Speaking at a meeting with the heads of various departments and Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) under his change, at Civil Secretariat Jammu this afternoon, Kichloo said promotion of Industrial sector in the State was need of the hour adding that main focus of policy makers should be on creating entrepreneur friendly environment for developing MSME, cottage and village Industries. He said encouraging industries based on local raw material needs to be given first priority. “Promotion of Agro and mineral based industries should be the thrust area of policy makers,” Kichloo added as raw material for these Industries is available locally in abundance.
Kichloo also urged for entrepreneurship development, skill development and skill up gradation for youth to make them market competitive. The Director J&K Entrepreneurship development institute, M I Parray apprised the Minister that an amount of Rs 90.69 crore has been provided to 2790 entrepreneurs for establishing 2669 enterprises having employment potential of 16910 persons. He said seed money and loan amount has already been disbursed in favour of 2312 enterprises by the J&K bank. He said a separate campus of EDI is being set up at Miran Saheb Jammu for which a plot of land measuring 64 kanal have already been identified. The meeting was informed that in order to establish a viable cold chain for boosting horticulture industry in the State, three modern CA stores with a capacity of 75000 MTs have been set up in Industrial Growth Centre, Lassipora whereas 16 more such projects are in various stages of implementation. It was stated that such CA stores shall be set up in different area of the State starting with Sopore, Verinag and Tangmarg.
The Managing Director, SIDCO, Mohammad Muazzam informed that one Mega Food Park on 400 kanals of land has been approved to be set up in Industrial Growth Centre (ICG) Lassipora Pulwama at a cost of Rs 78 crore where 30 units with an investment of Rs 46 crore shall be set up with employment for 1200 persons. He said one Textile Park has already been set up at Govindpur Kathua whereas one more Textile Park shall be set up on 200 kanals in Industrial Estate Ghatti at a cost of Rs 47 crore where 30 units shall be established with an investment of Rs 250 crore providing employment to about 3000 persons.
It was informed that a modern wool and wool design development centre at a cost of Rs 2.10 crore is being established at Nowshera Srinagar to promote Wool Industry in the State. The centre will facilitate scoring, dying, spinning and weaving of fine quality tweeds, shawls and blankets.
It was also informed in the meeting that a multi crore magnetite project at Panthal has been launched whereas global tenders have been floated for extraction of world famous sapphire in Paddar Kishtwar.
The heads of Industries and Commerce, Handloom, Handicrafts, Geology and Mining, J&K Minerals Limited, J&K SICOP, J&K Khadi and Village Industry Board (KVIB), J&K Industries Ltd, J&K Handloom Development Corporation also briefed about major achievements of their respective department and Corporations and assured the minister that targets assigned with the respect to different activities shall be accomplished in full.
The Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Farooq Ahmed Faktoo was also present in the meeting.

KR Desk