J&K sees 4145 Cr investment, 5000 jobs as CM Omar Abdullah pushes for stronger industrial growth
Srinagar, Sep 19: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded investment realisation of 4145 crore in FY 2024-25, nearly ten times higher than the pre-2021 average, while the current fiscal up to August 2025 has already seen 4001 crore worth of projects grounded, generating 5,111 jobs in the formal sector. For the first time, multiple industrial units with investment exceeding 500 crore each have been established in metals, plastics, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and food processing.
Against this backdrop, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday directed the Industries and Commerce Department to adopt a proactive and inclusive approach in strengthening JK’s industrial ecosystem, with a clear focus on employment generation, sustainability, and competitiveness.
Reviewing progress in a high-level meeting, the Chief Minister expressed concern over slow capital expenditure under PMEGP and REGP schemes this fiscal, asking the department to at least match last year’s performance. He emphasised the need to handhold MSMEs in distress but capable of revival with minimal intervention. “Such units can generate significant employment if supported in time,” he said.
Omar Abdullah also stressed early operationalisation of 46 new industrial estates and development of existing ones. He directed officials to review the land policy to ensure quick allotment to units that have deposited premium but are awaiting transfer, and to prioritise industries that can either use local raw material or serve local markets.
On the policy front, the Chief Minister called for exploring JK-specific measures to enhance the ease of doing business beyond national benchmarks and to design incentives that position the UT competitively against neighbouring states in light of new GST slabs. He further asked for structured feedback from industries that have applied under the Single Window Clearance system to plug operational gaps.
Highlighting the importance of JK’s crafts sector, the Chief Minister underlined the need to expand GI certification testing facilities so artisans and dealers are not affected by limited departmental capacity. “Industrial development in JK must not only attract investment but also ensure it translates into jobs, livelihoods, and sustainable growth for our youth and artisans,” he said.Local events calendar
Commissioner Secretary Industries and Commerce Vikramjit Singh, in his presentation, revealed that MSMEs contribute 8 per cent to JK’s GDP and employ over 10.88 lakh people, including 15 per cent women. He said initiatives such as the MSME Health Clinic, Udyam registration across 4914 blocks, and capacity-building programmes under the RAMP scheme have been rolled out to support small industries.
The startup ecosystem has also grown significantly, with registrations rising from 69 in 2020 to 1,127 in 2025, showing a marked shift towards technology and service-based ventures. JK is set to host a Startup Summit in October in Srinagar, in collaboration with Startup India, MEITY, and SIDBI.
The handicrafts sector too has witnessed momentum, with 4.39 lakh artisans registered across JK and exports more than doubling to 1163 crore in 2023-24. Srinagar has been recognised as a World Crafts City by the World Crafts Council and included in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network. The UT has also introduced a QR-based certification system for craft products, the first of its kind globally.
