Srinagar, June 29: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said Jammu and Kashmir must create a new generation of exporters, diversify its export basket and strengthen export infrastructure to achieve the ambitious goal of doubling exports by 2030.
He also termed the action against Jammu and Kashmir’s mutton dealers in Punjab as “unjustified” and said the issue has again been taken up with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Addressing the inaugural session of the J&K International Buyer-Seller Meet at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, Omar said the Union Government’s target of doubling exports by 2030 gives Jammu and Kashmir only a few years to significantly expand its export base.
“We have to support those who are already exporting, but at the same time we need to create exporters out of people who are not exporting today. Their markets are presently confined to Jammu and Kashmir or, at best, some parts of the country. Our effort is to make exporting easier for them,” the Chief Minister said.
He said the Buyer-Seller Meet provides an important platform by bringing together international buyers, exporters, manufacturers, artisans and self-help groups to explore new business opportunities and global markets.
Recalling Jammu and Kashmir’s rich trading legacy, Omar said the region historically exported its products without depending on formal export channels.
“Our buyers came to us in the form of tourists. They purchased our products and carried them back to different parts of the world. Many lifelong relationships between buyers and artisans were built that way. We rarely had to participate in organised buyer-seller meets or handicraft fairs because buyers automatically came to Kashmir,” he said.
However, he noted that prolonged disturbances and a decline in tourism forced artisans and traders to adopt an entirely different business model.
The Chief Minister said nearly 98 per cent of Jammu and Kashmir’s exports currently originate from just four districts, while the remaining districts contribute only two per cent, underscoring the need to broaden the export base across the Union Territory.
“The challenge before us is how to increase the number of exporters and expand exports to every region of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Highlighting infrastructure gaps, Omar stressed the urgent need to establish a dry port in Jammu and Kashmir to simplify export procedures and ensure exports are officially recorded in the Union Territory.
“We urgently need a dry port. Today our goods are exported from here but are often stamped elsewhere, because of which exports get credited to another state. We are working to ensure all export-related procedures are completed within Jammu and Kashmir itself so that exporting becomes easier for our entrepreneurs and our exports are properly reflected in our own account,” he said.
Action Against Mutton Dealers ‘Unjustified’
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, Omar also expressed concern over the action reportedly being taken against Jammu and Kashmir’s mutton dealers in Punjab, describing it as “unjustified.”
He said he has been in regular contact with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the issue and has written to him once again seeking its resolution.
“I have been in touch with the Punjab Chief Minister for months and have written to him again. Our mutton dealers are only using Punjab as a transit route. They are not purchasing livestock there. They should not be punished merely for passing through the state. The action against them is unjustified,” Omar said.
The Chief Minister warned that if the matter remains unresolved, it will be raised before the North Zone State Council, and he would seek the intervention of the Central Government to protect the interests of Jammu and Kashmir’s traders.
He reiterated that the government is committed to addressing issues affecting local businesses while simultaneously creating new opportunities for exporters, artisans and entrepreneurs to expand their presence in national and international markets. (with inputs from KNO)
