Meets Anil Ambani, Subash Chandra, Arun Nanda 

Govt keen to welcome pvt players in industry, power, IT, tourism sectors  

MUMBAI: Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Thursday met various business tycoons in the country’s financial capital here and discussed prospects to give impetus to investment in industry, telecommunications, power and tourism sectors in J&K.

After his arrival here yesterday, the Chief Minister held series of meetings with Anil Ambani, owner of ADAG, Dr. Subash Chandra of Zee Media, Arun Nanda of Mahindra Group and Nikhil Meswani, Executive Director of Reliance Industries Limited to discuss measures taken by the government to create positive atmosphere for private sector investment in the state. 

The Chief Minister was flanked by Minister for Finance, Labour & Employment, Dr. Haseeb A. Drabu and Political Advisor to the Chief Minister, Prof. Amitabh Mattoo. 

Asking top names of the Corporate sector to enter into strategic partnership with the state government, Mufti Sayeed said J&K has the potential to become an ideal destination for investment and the government was promoting ‘Ease of Business Policy’ to create a positive climate for wooing investors to the state. He said required approvals will be made available to the investors through a hassle-free ‘Single Window’ mechanism without them having to follow up with different departments. 

The Chief Minister stated he was determined to improve connectivity within and outside the state and specially thanked the Central government for assuring completion of the four-lanning of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway by 2017. “This will annihilate distances and enable us to complete journey between the two capital cities in four hours only,” he added. 

 In his meeting with Anil Ambani, the Chief Minister sought cooperation for investment in IT sector to create employment opportunities for youth in the state. He laid emphasis on establishing Call Centres and a Dhirubhai Ambani Management Institute, which will enhance the employability of skilled human resource. 

Anil Ambani assured the Chief Minister of setting up a 1000-seater call centre in two phases which will provide job opportunities to nearly 3000 youth. “A team will visit J&K after Diwali to work out modalities to set up the Call Centre,” he said, while assuring the Chief Minister of his keen interest in preparing a blueprint of cooperation between his company and the state government. 

Describing quality reliable power as a major industry promoter, Anil Ambani also urged Mufti Sayeed to consider framing of a State Solar Policy as solar power was getting cheaper in comparison to hydel and thermal power. “It is clean green power and the kind of potential J&K has in this sector, it will auger well for the state,” he observed. 

On invitation of the Chief Minister, Anil Ambani said he would love to visit J&K soon, along with his mother. 

In his meeting with Subash Chandra, the Chief Minister discussed the matter of setting up two amusement parks in proximity of Ranjit Sagar Dam, in Kathua and Wullar Lake, in Bandipora district to boost state's tourism sector.  

Dr. Chandra informed the Chief Minister that a team will travel to J&K in the next couple of months to assess possibilities of setting up of ESSEL WORLD-type amusement parks at the identified locations. 

During his meeting with Arun Nanda, Mufti Sayeed discussed the possibility of developing 'Tourism & Handicraft Villages', similar to Inter-Laken in Switzerland. In addition, he also discussed the issue of setting up of two IT Parks in J&K, on pattern of Chennai, in Tamil Nadu. 

The possibility of restoration of tourist assets in partnership with the state government was also deliberated upon during the meeting. 

The Chief Minister also met Anshuman Ruia of the Aegis Group. The promoter promised to double the capacity of the existing centre at Rangreth by March 2016. He also expressed to the Chief Minister his keen desire to foray into distribution of financial services in the state.