* Addresses maiden stakeholders conference on EoDB
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 12: In a significant move to strengthen the industrial ecosystem of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo chaired stakeholders conference with the concerned Government departments and stakeholders from industry and trade to deliberate on reforms introduced by the Department of Industries & Commerce for promoting Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in the Union Territory.
The session steered by the Commissioner, I&C, Vikramjit Singh and was attended by the concerned Administrative Secretaries, Director, F&ES, MD J&K Bank; HoDs and major Industrial Associations like ASSOCHAM, PHDCCI, FICCI, FCIK, JCCI, ICC Jammu etc. The Conference provided a platform for detailed discussions on the revamped industrial policy, deregulation measures and initiatives aimed at supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the UT.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Secretary emphasized the need for stakeholders to fully understand the changes made in the industrial policy and the scores of deregulations and decriminalizations introduced as part of the national reforms aimed at reducing the compliance burden and improving the overall business environment.
He observed that several stringent norms had been eased and replaced with trust-based mechanisms such as self-certification, while many Government services had been made strictly time-bound with provisions for auto-approvals after the stipulated timelines.
The Chief Secretary also used the occasion to encourage industrialists and entrepreneurs to share their suggestions and concerns with the empowered committee constituted to ensure the smooth rollout of these initiatives in the Union Territory.
Highlighting the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ towards creating a business-friendly environment, Dulloo stated that such reforms are intended to make the process of establishing and operating businesses far less cumbersome by drastically reducing formalities, documentation and procedural delays. He added that these measures are designed to build confidence among investors and encourage entrepreneurship across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Secretary also highlighted the key provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Policy 2021-2030, describing it as a strong foundation towards industrial development in the region.
Elaborating further, the Commissioner Secretary, I&C, Vikramjit Singh detailed that the policy aims to promote inclusive entrepreneurship by providing additional incentives to women-led enterprises. MSMEs with at least 51 percent female ownership will receive an additional 25 percent financial assistance, encouraging greater participation of women in industrial ventures. In addition, the Government has proposed a reimbursement of Rs 50 lakh for any J&K registered unit that successfully lists on the National Stock Exchange of India or BSE Limited, thereby encouraging corporate growth and financial transparency among industrial units in the UT.
A key highlight of the session was the introduction about the Jammu & Kashmir MSME Health Clinic, a digital initiative aimed at providing timely advisory support to MSMEs, which form the backbone of the industrial sector in the Union Territory.
The Commissioner Secretary added that Units identified as stressed will receive expert guidance and actionable recommendations from specialists associated with the Indian Institute of Management Jammu. The initiative also provides for tailored rehabilitation plans, including financial assistance of up to Rs 2.77 lakh to support revival of viable enterprises. Entrepreneurs can register and access these services through the dedicated online portal of the MSME Health Clinic.
Taking this occasion the Director, I&C Jammu, Arun Manhas detailed the reforms undertaken under the compliance reduction and deregulation programme aimed at simplifying regulatory procedures for industries.
Further reforms include adoption of self-certification for low-risk buildings and white category industries, increased operational flexibility through raising the labour retrenchment threshold from 100 to 300 workers, and permission for women to work night shifts with adequate safety safeguards. Additionally, minor technical lapses have been decriminalized through the Jammu and Kashmir Jan Vishwas Ordinance 2025, shifting the focus from criminal penalties to administrative enforcement.
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