Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar : Though the LG Girish Chandra Murmu led administration was hopeful of successfully conducting a full-fledged Global Investors Summit in Jammu and Kashmir in the last week of May this year, but the coronavirus outbreak has make it difficult for government to conduct the first ever summit in the Union Territory.
“We were looking for this major event in the last week of May. But due to the coronavirus outbreak we have not decided on it yet,” MD JKTPO, SIDCO, Ravinder Kumar told news agency KINS over phone from Jammu.
He said that government was still exploring all options to make the event successful in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. “We are in touch with the government and the investors. Once the decision will be taken, you will be accordingly informed,” he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization (JKTPO) is the nodal agency for conducting the summit.
The summit, which was earlier scheduled in October last year, could not also take place due to uncertain situation on the ground.
The government had already held road shows in various cities of the country inviting investors to invest in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources had told KINS that before investors meet the administration was planning to hold conclave in both Jammu and Srinagar wherein all the local investors would have been invited in the event.
The government had maintained that the first ever summit of investors will see strategic sectoral sessions, round table deliberations, technical presentations, partnerships, one-to-one business meetings and signing of memorandum of understanding.
“ once the summit will be organized in the union territory, it will present immense opportunities to develop contacts between the local and outside business community and will provide not only primary employment but also generate secondary and ancillary employment opportunities for youth.
The government had already constituted the Apex Committee for hosting the event.
Several Committees such as Empowered Committee, Hospitality Committee, Venue Management Committee, Traffic & Security Committee, transport Committee, Cultural Committee, City Beautification Committees, Media and Publicity Committee, Sight Seeing Committee, Exhibition Committee etc with specific role and responsibilities, headed by Administrative Secretaries, were also being constituted. These Committees was asked to work for desired outcomes.
Officials said the Confederation of Indian Industry was selected as the national partner, while Earnest Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Expro as knowledge, media and event partner.
It is to mention here that thousands of kanals of land were identified for outside investors.
Sources said that most of the companies which had shown interest to setup their businesses in Kashmir were from Mahrashtra.
The government had also issued directions to all district commissioners, both in Jammu and Kashmir, to submit details about the state land available in their jurisdictions.
Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu has already said that the first-ever Jammu and Kashmir global investors summit will be held in the region.
While underscoring the importance of the event for J&K, the Chief Secretary had also said it will provide the newly-formed Union Territory a platform to showcase its strengths, strategies and potential in the investment sector.
The Chief Secretary had also said the Summit will kick start industrial development in J&K at par with other states and propel the UT as the preferred investment destination among the domestic and global investors.(KINS)
