Srinagar, May 28: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Friday said the government was trying to create conditions in the state that were essential for attracting investment.
“To make J&K an industrialized state,” he said, “it was important to focus on its core-strengths.”
Omar was speaking at a conference on ‘Bio-Pharma Hub: Advantage Jammu and Kashmir’ here. The conference was organized by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) in collaboration with J&K SIDCO.
The CM unveiled ASSOCHAM Study, entitled ‘Realizing Growth Potential of J&K on the occasion.
He said the bio-pharma industry suited to J&K. “We do have certain inherent advantages and core-strengths that we need to capitalize on; and one of them is bio-pharma wealth that J&K is blessed with,” Omar said, adding that this wealth was not confined to any one region in J&K, “but is spread across regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.”
He said the bio-pharma industry was not much dependent upon electricity unlike other industries in J&K.
He emphasized the need for creating a pool of skilled work force in the state, who could meet the demands of the industries coming up in J&K.
He said there was already a huge talent pool of young educated boys and girls available in the state, who, however, did not have the skills the bio-pharma industry looked for.
“But that is something that can easily be taken care of, as the present government has been holding several programmes on skill-development,” he said.
“This is because we realize that it really doesn’t serve our purpose if we encourage the investment and yet the skilled manpower is not available,” he added.
He said one of the biggest problems faced in J&K was that of unemployment. “Therefore, for us to get benefit from investment in the industry, it is essential that we have a pool of skilled youngsters for being meaningfully employed in the companies that invest in J&K,” he said, adding that the package of incentives granted by the government of India also necessitated that 90 per cent of the employees should be from the state.
He also stressed that the companies investing in J&K should involve local entrepreneurs, who were interested in setting up for themselves, yet were lacking access to the market. “If budding entrepreneurs from the Entrepreneurship Development Institute are picked, allowed to develop their own units and investments come in easily, then nothing like that,” he said.
Omar reiterated that government jobs were not available for all. He said there were more than 500,000 registered unemployed youth and the actual number could be even more.
“Traditionally in Kashmir, the only jobs that are sought are government jobs, whereas private sector is not being considered. But there are no government jobs for all,” he said. “Even if I push it, I will be able to create about 100,000 openings in the government over the next four to five years that needs me looking for about 400,000 job opportunities in sectors other than the government,” he added.
He said sectors like tourism, handicrafts, handlooms, agriculture, etc could generate huge employment in the state. “And bio-pharma must rank in top three possible industrial activities that could be tried in J&K,” he said.
He said bio-phrama and information technology were the two sets of industries that had got the maximum potential. “IT requires nothing except the skilled man-power and digital connectivity. And for bio-pharma, raw-material is abundantly available in J&K,” he said. “That is why this ASSOCHAM initiative to focus on J&K as bio-pharma hub has come up as very timely. And in the first instant, I really would hope that some local entrepreneurship is developed out of today’s efforts,” he added.
J&K, he said, faced a number of challenges from the investment point of view, whereas on security front, things were much better. “I still have a lot to do in terms of infrastructure both in terms of physical infrastructure and power that shall make the investors comfortable,” he said.
He said the government was working towards improving the quality and quantity of power. The Baglihar Phase II, he said, shall start after final nod came from the Central Electricity Authority. He added that negotiations were on for 1200 MW Sawlakote Hydroelectric Project within the state government.
 “We are also seeking to address the infrastructural constraints that we have at present,” he said.
The CM said the Valley shall soon have better road and railway connectivity with other parts of India. “By next year,” he said, “the second road connectivity between the Valley and the rest of the country shall be available via Mughal Road.”
 “The rail project is also going on at a very smooth pace,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 28 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 28 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 29 May 2010 00:00:00 IST