Commissioner/Secretary Industries and Commerce Chairs 12th Board Meeting of Jammu & Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization

Board approves component wise activity plan for FY 2023-24, emphasizing on Export promotion, Investment, promotion, Investor Facilitation and building Brand J&K.

Srinagar: Commissioner/Secretary Industries and Commerce, Sh. Vikramjit Singh, chaired the 12th Board of Directors (BoDs) meeting of the Jammu & Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization (JKTPO) today at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar. The meeting saw the approval of the budget for the fiscal year 2023-24, with a strong emphasis on participation in and organizing Trade Fairs/Exhibitions/Buyer Seller Meets, investment promotion, investor facilitation, and building the brand of J&K.
The Managing Director of JKTPO, Sh. Khalid Jahangir, presented the meeting’s agenda and briefed the board on the progress made in implementing previous board decisions. The board members deliberated on various agenda items and approved the component wise activity plan of JKTPO for FY 2023-24 amounting to INR 30 as per the ceiling approved by the Finance Department. The Board was informed that the approved amount related to export promotion, investment promotion, investor facilitation, and the overall enhancement of trade and commerce activities in J&K.
During the meeting, Commissioner/Secretary Sh. Vikramjit Singh called for more focus on investment promotion and facilitation activities in J&K. He highlighted the pivotal role that JKTPO will play in executing investor facilitation activities In Jammu & Kashmir. The organization aims to achieve this through various outreach programs and sector-specific events, with the goal of branding J&K as an investment-friendly destination. To further streamline the process, it was advised to strength the Investor Facilitation Cell already established within JKTPO, dedicated to assisting existing and prospective investors as well as applicants through a Single Window Portal.
The board also approved organizing of Mega Trade fair in Srinagar by JKTPO in collaboration with ITPO. This Mega trade fair is expected to witness participation of leading buyers and exhibitors from different parts of the country and the globe. This will be first of its kind initiative in J&K, intended to be made annual feature.
Furthermore, the Board approved the flagship program of JKTPO, “Hausla Batch-2nd,” designed to mentor and train women entrepreneurs. This initiative aims to empower and support women in business and foster their entrepreneurial growth. During this financial year it has been curated to identify beneficiaries from each district and organize training in the districts to ensure equitable growth of Women Entrepreneurship
In addition to these above decisions, the Board highlighted the importance of conducting start-up promotion activities and brand promotion for products originating from J&K. The organization intends to create a conducive environment for local entrepreneurs to thrive and to enhance the visibility and reputation of J&K products in national and international markets.
To facilitate international trade opportunities, the Board approved participation of J&K based exporters in six international events for FY 2023-24. It was also decided to shortlist/ nominate the exporters on the basis of objective evaluation criteria and also a committee of experts will ensure a transparent selection process for J&K sellers participating in these events.
The decisions made during the 12th Board meeting of JKTPO reflect the commitment of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir to promote economic growth, encourage investments, and enhance trade activities in the region. These initiatives aim to position J&K as a favourable destination for investment and provide a platform for local businesses to flourish on both national and international fronts.
Among the Board Director’s Mahmood Ahmad Shah, Director, Handicrafts & Handlooms Department, Kashmir, Tej Krishan Bhat, Special Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Vikas Gupta, Director, Handicrafts & Handlooms Department, Jammu, Rakesh Kumar, Additional Secretary, Finance Department attended the meeting.
Besides, Samita Sethi, Secretary in Industries & Commerce Department, Tariq Ahmad Zargar, Special Secretary, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Department, Abdul Majid Bhat, Director Finance, Higher Education Department, Amarjeet Singh, Special Secretary, Tourism Department, Imran Mehmood, FA/CAO, JKTPO, Vijay Kumar, Dy Director Planning Industries & Commerce J&K, Vikas Goyal, CFO, representatives from Export Promotion Council of Handicraft ,Sheikh Aashiq, member and representative from Carpet Export Promotion Council, and Sahil Gupta, consultant company secretary to JKTPO also attended the meeting.