The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) on Thursday submitted a comprehensive Executive Policy Memorandum to the Government, presenting industry’s perspective on the proposed Institutional Framework for Effective Ease of Doing Business and the Revised Industrial Policy in a consolidated form.
The 17-page Memorandum was submitted by an FCIK delegation led by Shahid Kamili to the Drafting Committee constituted by the Government under the chairmanship of Shailender Kumar, Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Finance Department, during the second and final round of stakeholder consultations held at the TRC Conference Hall, Srinagar.
The meeting was attended by the other two members of the Drafting Committee, Vikramjeet Singh, Commissioner/Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department, and Amitava Chatterjee, Managing Director & CEO, J&K Bank. Also present were Anil Banka, Director, Industries & Commerce, Kashmir, Zahoor Ahmad Magrey and Rayees Ahmad Bhat, Joint Directors, Industries & Commerce, General Managers of District Industries Centres across Kashmir, senior officers of the Industries & Commerce Department and its Public Sector Undertakings, besides representatives of various trade and business organisations.
The Executive Policy Memorandum consolidates the principal concerns and recommendations contained in FCIK’s earlier comprehensive submissions, together with several additional policy suggestions emerging from extensive consultations with industrial associations and stakeholders. It seeks to provide a practical policy blueprint for the Revised Industrial Policy by outlining industry’s perspective on the institutional framework for effective Ease of Doing Business and the policy provisions required to create a competitive, investment-friendly and employment-oriented industrial ecosystem in Jammu & Kashmir.
During the deliberations, the FCIK delegation comprehensively articulated the concerns and aspirations of the industrial sector and actively participated in detailed discussions with the Drafting Committee on a wide range of policy issues affecting the industrial and MSME ecosystem of the Union Territory.
Among its principal recommendations, FCIK has proposed a statutory and technology-driven Ease of Doing Business framework, restoration and strengthening of District Industries Centres, a single integrated Industrial Policy applicable to existing, revived, expanding and new industrial units, a comprehensive revival and rehabilitation package for stressed MSMEs, broad parity with the incentive architecture of the New Central Sector Scheme, and long-term policy stability to restore investor confidence.
The Memorandum also advocates major reforms in public procurement by reviving SICOP as the nodal procurement and marketing agency on the lines of GeM portal, introducing purchase preference for local manufacturing enterprises, strengthening local participation on the GeM Portal, ensuring MSME-friendly e-tendering, segregating supply contracts from works contracts, and eliminating restrictive tender conditions that impede participation of local manufacturers.
Recognising the importance of industrial competitiveness, FCIK has further recommended strengthening industrial infrastructure, improving institutional credit flow, rationalising statutory charges, ensuring timely payments to MSMEs, promoting employment-linked and green industrialisation, and introducing dedicated sector-specific policies for wood-based, mineral-based, agro and horticulture processing, food processing, poultry, printing and packaging, handicrafts and other resource-based industries. It has also proposed strengthening key institutions such as SIDCO, SICOP, District Industries Centres and the MSME Facilitation Council, besides establishing robust monitoring and grievance redressal mechanisms to ensure effective implementation of the revised policy.
The chairman of the committee Shailender Kumar appreciated the comprehensive and well-structured submissions made by FCIK and engaged in detailed deliberations on several of the key policy issues raised in the Memorandum. A meaningful exchange of views took place on matters relating to Ease of Doing Business, revival of existing industries, public procurement reforms, institutional strengthening, fiscal support and credit flow to MSMEs.
The Committee acknowledged the valuable contribution of stakeholders to the policy formulation process and assured the participants that all suggestions received from industry and other stakeholders would be examined objectively while finalising the Revised Industrial Policy. The Chairman informed the meeting that the Drafting Committee would endeavour to complete the exercise and place the draft policy before the Government at the earliest for its consideration and approval.
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