Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 15: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) today raised a host of issues ranging from industrial incentives to export decline before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce, currently visiting J&K.
A delegation led by KCCI Senior Vice President Ashiq Hussain Shangloo and Joint Secretary General Umer Nazir Tibetbaqal met Committee Chairperson Dola Sen and other Members of Parliament, including Renuka Chowdhury, Yusuf Pathan, Shiv Pal Singh Patel, Sadanand Shet Tanavade and Prasun Banerjee, among others.
In a detailed memorandum, the Chamber sought urgent interventions on ease of doing business, revival of an industrial incentive scheme, warehousing and logistics facilities, export promotion, and credit access.
KCCI said cumbersome clearances and expired no-objection certificates continue to affect entrepreneurs despite the Centre’s push for ease of doing business, and demanded a “genuine single-window system.”
It also flagged the absence of an industrial incentive scheme since the exhaustion of the Rs 28,400-crore New Central Sector Scheme in September 2024.
It called for reserving 25% of benefits for local entrepreneurs under any new scheme.
The Chamber also highlighted heavy trade losses due to frequent NH-44 closures, sought a logistics park and additional parcel trains.
It also expressed concern over the sharp fall in handicraft exports-from Rs 1,162 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 733 crore in 2024-25.
Among other recommendations were warehousing facilities abroad including Bharat Mart in Dubai, recognition of J&K under the Export Promotion Mission and setting up of an Inland Container Depot.
The delegation also demanded accreditation of the new Pashmina fibre testing lab at SKUAST-K, distribution of 500 modernised looms, and reintroduction of the 3% interest subvention on export finance.
Further, the Chamber opposed dilution of the proposed Golden Pashmina Brand and called for certification only for 100 percent handmade Pashmina.
It also urged the RBI and banks to relax norms for entrepreneurs penalised due to low or erroneous CIBIL scores, citing repeated disruptions from “conflict and natural calamities.”
KCCI expressed optimism that the Parliamentary Committee would take its recommendations on board to help shape a resilient economic future for Jammu and Kashmir.
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