| KCCI, SGCCI holds interactive business meeting | | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 1: In a significant push for cross-regional business cooperation, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) held an interactive business meeting with the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) in Ahmedabad to explore investment opportunities, identify areas of mutual cooperation, and strengthen business ties between the two regions.
The high-level interaction was chaired by the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Omar Abdullah, and aimed at strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and cultural ties between the two regions.
KCCI President Javid Ahmad Tenga, while welcoming the SGCCI delegation, underscored the significance of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two chambers in 2023 and reaffirmed KCCI's commitment to building sustainable, inclusive and forward-looking partnerships. He said the collaboration with SGCCI is rooted in mutual respect, practical engagement, and shared economic aspirations.
He highlighted key focus areas identified under the MoU-handicrafts, tourism , horticulture, solar energy, IT infrastructure, industrial investments, and cultural exchanges. "We believe this relationship can help overcome regional economic handicaps and open market access for our artisans and entrepreneurs. It's time we moved from potential to execution," Tenga added.
SGCCI President Ramesh Vaghasia, while addressing the gathering, announced that SGCCI is actively exploring direct investments in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the fields of solar energy, information technology, data centres, and electric mobility. He said SGCCI has presence in 84 countries and has built networks of entrepreneurs and investors who are keen to partner with regions like Kashmir. "We aim to help KCCI members showcase their products in Gujarat and also invite Gujarat-based industries to invest in the Valley in high-potential sectors," he said.
Vaghasia further offered to facilitate KCCI's participation in upcoming trade and buyer-seller events in Gujarat, especially in the winter season when handicraft and horticulture products from Kashmir are in high demand.
As a key outcome of the dialogue, SGCCI formally invited the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and the KCCI to participate in the upcoming Global Investment and Tourism Expo being held in Surat from August 23 to 25, 2025. The event will host investors, industrial leaders, and trade representatives from across India and abroad and provide a platform for Kashmir to promote its economic and tourism potential.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in his address, lauded the initiative and emphasised the importance of translating such engagements into actionable collaborations. He said the focus must be on sectors where impact is visible and achievable in the short term. Solar energy, IT, and electric mobility are areas that can bring real transformation and mutual benefit. The Chief Minister assured the visiting chamber and prospective investors that the Jammu and Kashmir Government will provide single-window facilitation for all genuine investments and joint ventures that emerge out of the KCCI-SGCCI engagement.
He also stressed that economic cooperation must go hand-in-hand with cultural understanding and people-to-people contact.
The Chief Minister commended The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry for their foresight and vision in signing the Memorandum of Understanding aimed at fostering mutual growth and economic collaboration between the two regions. He noted that such initiatives not only strengthen inter-regional business ties but also pave the way for shared prosperity, cultural exchange, and inclusive development. The Chief Minister expressed hope that this partnership would lead to concrete outcomes in trade, industry, and tourism, ultimately benefiting the people of both Jammu & Kashmir and Gujarat.
The meeting was attended by several senior officials and public representatives, including Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Gulmarg Farooq Ahmad Shah, MLA Pahalgam Altaf Ahmad Kaloo, and Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta.
The KCCI delegation included Secretary General Faiz Ahmad Bakshi, Joint Secretary General Umar Nazir Tibetbaqal, Executive Committee Members Amir Manzoor Guna and Muhammad Ibrahim Siah, along with the prominent hotelier and KCCI member Mushtaq Ahmad Chaya and other stakeholders.
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