‘J&K 2.0 set to emerge’ Govt bags Rs 2847 Cr MoUs in maiden roadshows ahead of Investors Summit

TNN Bureau. Updated: 2/18/2020 9:46:26 AM Front Page

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday said a new version of "J&K 2.0" was all set to emerge as the Union territory was now "at par" with the rest of the country, as it held two grand roadshows in Bengaluru and Kolkata, thus kickstarting the pan-India series aimed at seeking investments in the UT.

Both these parallel shows witnessed as many as 34 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with total worth of Rs 2847 crores being signed, taking the total proposed investment in the region up to Rs 25000 Crore, with Rs 22000 Crore assured earlier last month.

The government also revealed that it was planning, in coordination with the Centre, to spend Rs 2,000 crore to upgrade infrastructure for tourists in the union territory and sought to allay the fear among fellow countrymen, and business establishments across India during these parallel shows.

The roadshows, aimed at allowing prospective investors to have a dialogue on the investment opportunities in the region, will cover cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad in February and March, before the J&K Global Investors’ Summit scheduled to be held in May.

The government is aiming to get along business hubs to draw together investors, decision-makers, senior government officials and the local business community in a dialogue that can spur the region''s industrial growth and manufacturing across 14 identified focus sectors for the summit.

In today’s roadshow held in Bengaluru, Kewal Kumar Sharma, advisor to the lieutenant governor, emphasised that a "new version of J&K -- J&K 2.0 is all set to emerge as the UT is now at par with rest of India."

“Every district of Jammu and Kashmir has a distinct heritage, culture and history, and huge untapped potential,” Sharma said.

Speaking about the law and order situation, he said the overall situation in Jammu and Kashmir is much changed after August 5 when special status to the state was withdrawn with the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution.

"Things are getting better and better," he said, adding that internet and connectivity issues in Jammu and Kashmir will be eased further in the coming months.

"The restrictions remain to make sure that these facilities are not misused for promoting disorder. In some months from now it should be possible to ease various restrictions related to the connectivity," he said.

Rohit Kansal, principal secretary, Planning Development and Monitoring Department, highlighted 14 sectors, including tourism, education, healthcare and infrastructure, which present the opportunities for potential investors.

With an aim to make Jammu and Kashmir an industrial hub, more than 48 investible projects and new 14 focus sectors have been identified, which are investor-friendly and easy to business, Kansal said.

"Six thousand plus acres of industrial and sector-specific land bank has been identified to attract large, mega and small industries to create more employment opportunities in the newly-formed UT. Jammu and Kashmir Trade Promotion Organisation (JKTPO) has also started its Investment felicitation Cell at Delhi and planning for Jammu and Srinagar," Kansal said.

During the Road show at Kolkata a detailed presentation was made by Ravinder Kumar, MD, JKTPO, which highlighted all the 14 Focus sectors and initiatives taken by Government to improve industrial ecosystem in UT. It was followed by UT J&K film and presentation on Tourism Sector by Zubair Ahmad, Administrative Secretary, Tourism.

"Many undesirable narratives are doing the rounds primarily focusing on security aspects. These are misinformation campaign by some vested interests that do not want to see J&K emerge as among the top tourist destinations," Zubair Ahmed said.

"The Jammu and Kashmir administration in coordination with the central government will spend Rs 2,000 crore to upgrade infrastructure and create better facilities for tourists," Ahmed said.

The government is also getting a lot of queries relating to investment in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

"Nearly one crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir in the calendar year 2019. In 2020, the figure will definitely cross one crore," said Commissioner Secretary, school education, Hirdesh Kumar.

He said though the summit will be held in May, the government has already received investment proposals worth Rs 22,000 crore.
“The atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir is safe and the only thing needed now is to spread this message across. We are trying to remove any suspicion or doubt which might be there in the minds of investors and tourists. Though some disturbances might have happened in the past, there has been not a single incident of any businessman or industrialist getting harassed," he said.

With the abrogation of Article 370 which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, people are now inclined towards J&K since they can buy land there and become a voter, Kumar claimed.

"Earlier, people were hesitant to go. But now the s


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