CM Omar Abdullah Calls for Revival of Stressed MSMEs, Urges Industrial Growth to Generate Jobs
SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today directed the Industries & Commerce Department to adopt a proactive and inclusive approach to strengthen Jammu and Kashmir’s industrial ecosystem, emphasizing employment generation, sustainability, and competitiveness.
Highlighting the importance of supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the Chief Minister stressed the need to handhold distressed yet revivable units through minimal government intervention. He urged officials to identify such units early to prevent them from becoming defunct, noting that timely support could create significant employment opportunities.
Expressing concern over the slow progress in capital expenditure this fiscal year, particularly under the PMEGP and REGP schemes, Omar Abdullah asked the department to at least match last year’s performance. He also reviewed the New Central Sector Scheme (NCSS) aimed at encouraging investments, assessing claim-wise progress and directing the department to achieve the set targets.
The Chief Minister instructed the department to prioritize industries where raw materials or local markets are readily available. He also called for a review of the land policy in industrial estates, stressing prompt allotment to units that have paid premiums but are awaiting approvals. Directions were given for the early completion of 46 new industrial estates and development of existing estates to ensure productive land use.
On improving the business climate, Omar Abdullah encouraged the department to explore measures beyond national benchmarks to enhance the Ease of Doing Business in J&K. He further directed officials to design policies that attract new industries in light of the Central Government’s revised GST rate slabs, highlighting J&K’s unique advantages over neighboring states.
To strengthen policy implementation, he advised seeking structured feedback from new industries operating under the Single Window Clearance (SWC) system to identify and address operational gaps. Regarding GI certification for crafts, the Chief Minister emphasized expanding testing facilities to prevent dealers from being hampered by limited capacity, cautioning that inadequate systems could undermine the purpose of GI tagging.
“Industrial development in J&K must not only attract investment but also translate into jobs, livelihoods, and sustainable growth for our youth and artisans,” he said.
Earlier, Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce Vikramjit Singh presented the department’s achievements, noting that investment realization in J&K during FY 2024-25 reached ₹4,145 crore—nearly ten times the pre-2021 average. In the current fiscal (up to August 2025), projects worth ₹4,001 crore have been grounded, generating 5,111 formal sector jobs. Multiple units with investments exceeding ₹500 crore have been established across sectors including metals, plastics, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and food processing.
The presentation highlighted that MSMEs contribute 8% to J&K’s GDP and employ over 10.88 lakh people, including 15% women. Initiatives like the MSME Health Clinic, Udyam registration drives across 4,914 blocks, and capacity-building programmes under the RAMP scheme have been launched to support this vital sector.
On startups, registrations surged from 69 in 2020 to 1,127 in 2025, with a shift toward technology and service-based ventures. J&K is set to host a Startup Summit in Srinagar this October in collaboration with Startup India, MEITY, and SIDBI.
The review also highlighted that 4.39 lakh artisans are registered across J&K, with exports more than doubling to ₹1,163 crore in 2023-24. Srinagar has been designated as a World Crafts City by the World Crafts Council and recognized by UNESCO under its Creative Cities Network. A globally first QR-based certification system for craft products has also been introduced.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, who also serves as Minister Incharge Industries & Commerce, Advisor to the CM Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, department heads, and other senior officials.
