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| Declare J&K as free economic zone, Traders urges Centre | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 13- The Jammu and Kashmir Traders and Industrialists have appealed the Centre Government to declare Jammu and Kashmir State as free economic zone, extend special package to the state, and make LoC more viable and meaningful.
Talking to media persons today in a joint press conference of CCI Jammu, CCI Kashmir, Federation of Industries Jammu and Federation of Industries, Y V Sharma, president CCI Jammu also appealed the Central Government to extend package given to North Eastern region.
‘No doubt Government intends to promote trade and industries here in Jammu and Kashmir, but it was unfortunate that steps by the Government were not transformed on the ground’, Sharma mentioned, demanding that Centre Government should extend special package meant fort north eastern regions to promote trade and industries to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
He impressed upon the Chief Minister to take up the issue more seriously if he (CM) wants to promote Trade and Industries in the state. “J&K is at the tail end in terms of Trade and industries, there is necessity of special package, proper benefits, incentives, concessions etc that too should not be interrupted in midway”, Sharma demanded.
Speaking on the occasion, Shakeel Kalander, president Kashmir Federation of Industries, said that we have decided to take up all the pending issues and matters to the relevant authority of State as well as Centre to promote the Trade and Industries which is in deplorable condition.
“In this connection, we have appealed to Chief Minister, cabinet Ministers and two Union Cabinet Ministers, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Dr Farooq Abdullah to press the Centre Government to provide special package so that the trade and Industries promote in better way, besides accepting J&K as free economic zone. The Kashmir Federation of Industries president said that small entrepreneurs of the State were not in a condition to compete with the entrepreneurs of Punjab, Harayana, UP, Delhi etc due to 20 years turmoil here in Jammu and Kashmir.
The members of CCI Jammu, CCI Kashmir, Federation of Industries Jammu and Federation of Industries also said that in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, traders and industrialists have no infrastructure, no technical labour etc. They said that the promises and commitment made by the Government with the Traders and Industrialists from time to time were not fulfilled by the successive Governments resulting into deplorable condition of trades and industries. “Government should be firm on its commitment”, members said.
They added that J&K State have 3.75 lakh entrepreneurs providing employment to 12 lakhs peoples if Government promotes Trades and Industries, 6 lakh more people would get employment within three years.
Regarding LOC Trade the Chamber leaders pleaded for holding regular meetings at facilitations points. To take LoC trade beyond a symbolic gesture and in order to make it viable and meaningful, trade has to be based on market demand and not to be restricted to few items only, the traders said and suggested that all items produced and manufactured in J&K on both sides of LOC be allowed to be traded with a small negative list such as liquor, tobacco, arms and ammunition besides opening other trading routes.
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