The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), J&K, through its Women Leadership Panel in collaboration with the Skills Panel, organised an awareness and educational programme titled “Catalysing Women-Led Growth: Incentives, Policies & Opportunities in J&K” at Countryside Resorts & Banquets, Lasjan, Srinagar, to familiarise aspiring women entrepreneurs with government schemes, financial incentives and institutional support available for business development.
The programme brought together policymakers, industry experts, institutional leaders, entrepreneurs and aspiring businesswomen to enhance awareness about government policies, financial assistance, skilling initiatives, incubation support and market opportunities aimed at promoting women-led enterprises across J&K.
The technical session featured presentations by Chief Executive Officer, Rural Business Incubation Centre (SKUAST-K), Jameel Khan; Principal, Kashmir Government Polytechnic, Dr. Shafquat Ara; Mission YUVA representative Aliya; and Founder and Director of KMPL and KMGI, as well as Convenor of the CII J&K Skills Panel, Uffair Aijaz. The speakers discussed government support mechanisms, entrepreneurship development, skill enhancement, incubation facilities, market access and the need for stronger institutional collaboration to build sustainable enterprises.
Welcoming the participants, Convenor, CII J&K Women Leadership Panel, Haya Qazi, stressed the need to create greater awareness about the wide range of government schemes and policy interventions available for women entrepreneurs.
She said women in J&K are making significant contributions in sectors such as handicrafts, tourism, food processing, education and services, but many remain unaware of the institutional support available to establish and expand their businesses. She said the programme was designed to bridge this information gap by connecting aspiring entrepreneurs with experts, government initiatives and ecosystem enablers.
Delivering the special address, Chairman, CII J&K, Iqram Shafi, reaffirmed the industry’s commitment to strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Union Territory through industry-government partnerships, innovation and skill development. He emphasised that empowering women entrepreneurs is critical to achieving inclusive economic growth, fostering innovation and generating sustainable employment opportunities.
Speaking during the session, Uffair Aijaz highlighted the importance of skill development, industry mentorship and market-oriented training in improving the competitiveness of women-led enterprises. He urged aspiring entrepreneurs to make full use of the support mechanisms available through government and industry institutions.
CII J&K member Adnan Shah also addressed the gathering and assured participants that the industry body would continue organising similar programmes to support emerging entrepreneurs and strengthen the startup ecosystem in the Valley.
The interactive session witnessed enthusiastic participation from women entrepreneurs, startups, students, professionals and representatives from industry and academia. Participants engaged directly with the expert panel, seeking guidance on financing options, government incentives, market linkages, business registration, mentorship opportunities and incubation support.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Co-Convenor, CII J&K Women Leadership Panel, Ridha Rashid, who thanked the speakers, participants and organisers for making the event a meaningful platform for promoting women-led entrepreneurship and encouraging greater participation of women in the region’s economic development.
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