India and Pakistan should organize buyer-seller meet to boost cross-LOC trade: J&K MSMEs

Jammu, Feb 16 (KNN) The non-inclusion of several products in the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for cross border trade is severely impacting the J&K based micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), who otherwise find it difficult to sell those products in the neighboring states due to locational disadvantage.

“The MSME Sector of our State is suffering due to locational disadvantages & shallow market avenues as it is difficult for them to sell their products in the neighboring States & if an opportunity is provided to the Unit holders to sell their products through Cross LOC Trade, it will boost the confidence of the Industrial Units and overall Economic Development of the State, said Lalit Mahajan, Chairman, Federation of Industries Jammu.

The sector has suggested that the Government of India & Pakistan should take initiatives  for holding Buyer Seller meet of the stake holders of Industries & Trade on regular basis to explore the market for the items Manufactured/produced for Cross LOC Trade & to resolve the issue like Telecommunication facility, financial transactions through banks.

A meeting in this regard was held by the Members of FOIJ to discuss the current scenario of Cross-LOC Trade for Industrial Sector.

While appreciating the Government’s decision to modify the present Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Cross LOC Trade, the members present in the meeting raised their serious concerns in respect of non-inclusion of majority of Industrial Products being manufactured by MSME Sector of J&K in the current SOP resulting great resentment amongst the Industrial Fraternity.

Majahan said, “We strongly suggest that all goods manufactured in J&K be brought into the ambit of LOC Trade to explore New Market for Local Industry which includes Ferrous & Non Ferrous Products, Pharma &  Health Care Products, Food Products, Packaging Material, Pesticides, Building Material, Paint Hardware, Electrical Goods, Garments, Blankets & Carpets, IT Products, Engineering Goods, Stationery Items, Cattle/ Poultry Feed, Chemicals and other allied products  being manufactured by local MSME Sector.”

In respect of Trade permits, the MSMEs have suggested that Permanent Registration Certificate of Industrial Unit duly registered with Directorate of Industries & Commerce Jammu/Kashmir shall be treated as Trade Permit for the Cross LOC Trade.

“We request Chander Parkash, Industries & Commerce Minister to take up the matter with the Govt. of India to resolve the issues on priority basis while sending recommendation for the modification in the SOP,” Mahajan said. (KNN Bureau)