Investments in J&K must have land safeguards, jobs for local youth: Omar

SRINAGAR: Advocating for expanding investments in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday 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.

“Himachal Pradesh has adopted a strict policy in this regard and there is need for adopting similar policy in J&K”, the Chief Minister said while addressing the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Jammu & Kashmir Annual Session-2025 titled “AMAZING J&K: Aspiring For New Growth Goals”.
He 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.
Omar Abdullah 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.
He emphasized the need for responsible entrepreneurial practices to foster an economic ecosystem that ensures sustainability across J&K.
He commended the resilience of J&K’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.
Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Satish Sharma, who attended the event as Guest of Honour, also spoke at the event. He emphasized the need to address past deficiencies and underscored the importance of promoting sports tourism, health tourism, and border tourism while leveraging Kashmir’s renowned hospitality through innovative marketing strategies.
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.
Madhav Singhania, Joint Managing Director & CEO, JK Cements Limited & Chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry, Northern Region; Syed Junaid Altaf Group Executive Director, FIL Industries Pvt. Ltd. & Chairman, CII J&K; Dr. M. A. Alim Director, Package Design Industries & Vice Chairman CII J&K were also present on the occasion.