Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said that investments in Jammu and Kashmir must have land investment safeguards, and create jobs for local youth.
The Chief Minister said this while attending the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Jammu & Kashmir Annual Session-2025 titled “AMAZING J&K: Aspiring For New Growth Goals”.
While advocating for expanding investments in Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister underscored that such investments must be regulated by laws protecting the agricultural land and having land investment safeguards, like in Himachal Pradesh which has put reasonable restrictions and at the same time it would ensure jobs for local youth.
He noted that Himachal Pradesh has adopted a strict policy in this regard and stressed the adoption of a similar policy in Jammu and Kashmir.
The CM commended the resilience of Jammu and Kashsmir’s industry, acknowledging businesses that have endured challenging times without solely relying on government subsidies.
He stressed the importance of ensuring long-term business sustainability, proposing a mechanism to track businesses’ viability beyond ten years.
On the ease of doing business, the Chief Minister advocated for a genuine single-window clearance system, addressing concerns over bureaucratic hurdles, particularly in obtaining clearances from forest and environment boards, which hinder manufacturing growth.
He encouraged stakeholders to provide suggestions and feedback for the upcoming budget, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to an industry-friendly policy framework.
Omar emphasized that such interactions are pivotal to enhancing efficiency, competitiveness, and creating business opportunities for industries through a range of specialized services and strategic global linkages. It also provides a platform for consensus-building and networking on key issues.
He sought suggestions and valuable insights from the participating entrepreneurs and other stakeholders that can be incorporated into the upcoming budget of Jammu and Kashmir for the overall welfare and benefit of the public, as well as for industries, tourism, and other sectors.
The event, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) J&K Council, brought together business leaders, industrialists, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders to discuss strategic actions to boost J&K’s economic growth and development, driving the region’s competitiveness and business potential through a robust and resilient industrial and sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem.
