Srinagar, Sept 29: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday called for sustained business partnerships between Jammu and Kashmir entrepreneurs and buyers from across India and abroad, saying the Government was working to create an enabling environment for investment, trade and industry while protecting the identity and authenticity of the region’s traditional products.

Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day Jammu and Kashmir International Buyer-Seller Meet organised by the J&K Trade Promotion Organisation (JKTPO) in collaboration with the Trade Promotion Council of India at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Omar said efforts to promote exports and attract investment must be accompanied by measures to make it easier to do business in the Union Territory.
Referring to legislation passed by the Legislative Assembly earlier in the day, the Chief Minister said the Government had taken a significant step towards improving the business environment.
“We have brought a law in the form of Ease of Doing Business, in which we have tried to put a stop to all these things,” he said, referring to unnecessary permissions, delays and excessive inspections faced by businesses.
Omar said the legislation provides for applications to be processed within prescribed timelines and, wherever applicable, deemed approval if action is not taken within the stipulated period.
“We have reduced the number of inspections,” he said, adding that the Government wanted to ensure that entrepreneurs seeking to establish industries, educational institutions and other enterprises were not discouraged by cumbersome procedures.
He said steps were also being taken to decriminalise certain minor violations, stressing that every lapse should not result in criminal proceedings or a lifelong criminal record.
“Today, we have also tried to decriminalise some ordinary mistakes, so that people don’t have to go to the courts for no reason. This will reduce the pressure in the courts,” he said.
Omar said the measures formed part of a broader effort to create conditions conducive to trade, commerce, manufacturing and investment.
“On one hand, we organise buyer-seller meetings. It is a good thing. But on the other hand, if we don’t make your work easier, then there is no point in these buyer-seller meetings if we tie one hand behind your back,” he said.
The Chief Minister also stressed the need to protect the distinct identity and authenticity of J&K products through stronger Geographical Indication (GI) protection and effective promotion.
Referring to Pashmina, embroidery, shawls, carpets, Namda, walnut, wool and papier-mâché, he said products sold in the name of Kashmir must genuinely reflect the skills and craftsmanship of its people.
“If something is sold in the name of Kashmir, it should be made in the hands of the people of Kashmir. And it should benefit the people of Kashmir,” Omar said.
He also urged participants to ensure that the buyer-seller meet resulted in lasting commercial relationships rather than one-time transactions.
“We don’t want this buyer-seller meet to be a one-off. We want to see relationships built from here,” he said.
Omar noted that buyers had travelled to the event from different parts of India as well as North America, Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
He expressed hope that participating buyers would identify J&K products for sustained marketing in their respective markets and establish long-term business partnerships with local entrepreneurs.