New Delhi, Mar 12 (KNN) PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) released a report titled “Kashmir, the Way Forward” at the promotional event in New Delhi on March 09, 2018.

With a view to facilitate the local small medium enterprises (MSME) for making them self sufficient for their growth and development, PHDCCI recommended the central government to implement the National Manufacturing Policy in Jammu and Kashmir in its release.

As per the reports, PHDCCI also suggested the government to implement national program on handicrafts and handlooms in the state as well.

Other recommendations made in the report are implementation of the National Handicraft Development Program of Development Commissioners Handicrafts in the state for the socio-economic empowerment of handicraft artisans and carpet weavers through involvement of stakeholders in the state level project committee (SLPC) and the review of mega carpet cluster and media handicraft cluster that implemented in the state.

Further the report states that with a view to strengthen the carpet industry and other handicrafts skilled human resources and assets created under these two schemes are required to be augmented.

The report has recommended that due to the unorganized nature of handloom sector all handloom products be kept out of Goods and Services Tax (GST) basket.

The report further states that state government must ensure that benefits if loan sanctioned by World Bank for revival of sericulture and silk industry should reach to sericulture farmers and sellers through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO’s).

The report further says though industrial status has been granted to tourism sector in the state but “incentives and benefits like SSI, MSME units need to be extended to this sector,” the report states.

Further additions in the report are no restrictions on expansion and up-gradation of existing tourism in line with the current market needs with ultra modern services and interior designs.

“There is need of golf courses at par with international standards in all tourist destinations of the Valley especially Sonmarg and extension of its marketing development incentives and one time incentives to tour operators of Valley,” the report adds.

With regard to general trade especially Fast Moving Consumer Goods ( FMCG), the PHDCCI report suggests that government should encourage establishment of warehouses of major companies selling their products in the state which will generate employment for around 5000 people.

There is also An urgent need of transparent high level project monitoring team to monitor infrastructure projects and make all information accessible online to people, the report states.

It has also suggested that a grievance cell be made operational at the Lower Munda office of the Commercial Taxes Commissioner for redressal of any grievance of local dealers and hydro electric power potential of the state needs to be tapped for establishment of small and mini hydel power projects to make the state self sufficient in power generation and round the clock power supply for the industry and commercial establishments as well as domestic use. (KNN/YV)