FCIK advises MSMEs to prepare for scaling up operations

Srinagar, Jan 14: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has counselled Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) of Jammu and Kashmir to get ready for scaling up to their next levels to increase local productions and the level of industrial self-sufficiency for reducing reliance on imports from other states.

A day-long workshop on “Industrial sector- the status and way forward” was organised by the Association of Small Scale Unit Holders (ASSIU) Ganderbal on Saturday which was participated by a large number of industry leaders from all districts and estates across Kashmir Valley.

A statement said that the workshop was presided over by President FCIK Shahid Kamili in the presence of Advisory Council members Shakeel Qalander and Zahoor Ahmad Bhat.

While expressing regret over the unprecedented increase in the imports of industrial goods from other states more so after the changes made by the UT government in their procurement policy, the President FCIK emphasised the need for scaling up existing industrial units with the adoption of modern technologies and focusing on innovative practices for product development and marketing strategy besides inculcating competitive practices to gradually expand in their size and scale.

Acknowledging the bottlenecks in the growth and development of industry in J&K, Kamili said that the long spell of turbulent conditions, natural calamities and unconcerned attitude of authorities has not only made the status of MSMEs stagnant but also stressful during the past three decades. He said that flawed industrial policies, low credit access, inertia to technological adoption, marketing and the perennial problems of delayed payments have added to the miseries of local enterprises and hampered their growth.

The President informed that a new hope had been generated after taking over the charge by the incumbent Chief Secretary who has assured FCIK to look into the resolution of all genuine issues confronting industrial functioning at the earliest.

Speaking on the occasion, former FCIK President Shakeel Qalander said that there was a dire need for a single composite and comprehensive industrial policy in J&K which supported the MSMEs in effective transformation in their growth rather than incentivizing them to remain small.

While championing due share to the local enterprises from public procurements, Qalander underscored the huge potential for the export of agriculture and horticulture-based products nationally and internationally.

Zahoor Ahmad Bhat in his presentation said that scaling up programmes for enterprises augured with the FCIK constitution that, among other things, emphasized working for increased local production of industrialized products in an attempt to reduce outside dependency.

He made an elaborate presentation on other provisions of the constitution incorporated for the integrity and growth of MSMEs.

Earlier welcoming the participants, ASSIU President Shabir Mirani informed that the industry was facing severe hardships on account of deficiencies and confusion in the industrial policies and regulations.

“It is in this context, that the workshop has been conducted by our association inviting industrial leaders from across Kashmir valley particularly the Advisory Council of FCIK to guide entrepreneurs on their forward movement,” said Mirani.

While expressing regret over the dearth of organised industrial estates in district Ganderbal with only one small estate over 106 kanals of land, Mirani hoped that FCIK would help in removing infrastructural bottlenecks which were keeping the huge number of educated youth away from taking up entrepreneurship as means of their livelihood in the district.