Omar to Investors

Omar woos investors; asks CII to shun mindset

Calling for a substantial change in the mindset of investors regarding Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Saturday said that there are places more uncertain than Jammu and Kashmir where investors do invest but are reluctant to come here.

Addressing a joint meeting of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and top ranking officers of the State Government here, he asked CII to take concrete steps in this regard and break the ice on ground.

“I am keen to see CII members starting ventures in the State and playing their important role in generating wide-ranging economic activities for the youth. For last two and half years we have had so much meetings and deliberations with regard to absorption of J and K youth in private job market by enhancing their skills and employability. Now is the time that ground breaking takes place in this regard”, he said and stressed on CII to be instrumental to help PPP mode projects in the State.

“We are ready to provide you package of incentives and satisfy your queries and apprehensions regarding investments in the State, especially in the Kashmir division”, he told CII adding that there are more uncertain places in the country than Kashmir where investors are investing. He asked CII to help change the mindset of investors regarding venturing upon in the State.

Omar welcomed the survey, analysis and reports prepared by CII and its associate companies for enhancing employability of youth and giving fillip to the skills development. “Your efforts are a welcome step and the suggestions you have made would be given due weightage by the government. We are keenly eager to make necessary dent in this sector to address large scale unemployment problem in the State”, he said adding that something concrete needs to be done by CII by participating with the State Government and local players to do the practical job on ground.

“I would like you to regularly organise talent hunt camps in the Universities and select the boys and girls for trainings and courses suit to your companies”, he said underlining the urgency for providing opportunity to educated youth to prove their talent. “At the end of the day my aim is to ensure maximum jobs to youth in the private sector as government is not in a position to absorb everyone”, he said adding that in this stupendous task the private investors have to be positively involved.

The Chief Minister asked CII to send their special teams to the State for placements in the universities, the government would provide you every facility to reach out them in every areas of the State.

“Our youth are more talented, capable and delivering which you have yourselves observed during the interaction sessions with boys and girls of Jammu and Kashmir in various higher educational institutions”, he told them calling for a comprehensive and result-oriented strategy by the CII and other such organisations to give exposure to these young persons.

Chairman CII Northern Region, Vijay Thadani, Chief Executive Officer, NIIT, Raju Choudhary, CII Head Jammu and Kashmir State, explained the salient features of the two reports prepared by CII regarding the skills development in Jammu and Kashmir State and enhancement of employability of educated youth.

A report regarding the potential for investment in the cold chain sector was also presented to the Chief Minister. The local investors who are the members of CII also presented their view point on the subject and shared their experiences in the field.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Industries, S.S Salathia, Minister of State for Cooperatives, Manohar Lal, Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B.B Vyas, Commissioner Secretary Industries, Umang Narula, Commissioner Secretary Tourism, Atul Dullo, Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, B.A Runiyal and other senior officers.