A lot is in the air concerning the potential investments reaching J&K and the same is being talked about too much after the visit of the Gulf delegation to Kashmir where they met with the traders and businessmen and even met with the aspiring entrepreneurs who presented their business models to the delegates. Well, the huge investments might be just around the corner; however, for channelizing and making those investments have an impact on the socio-economic picture of the J&K, there is a need for a lot more to be done.
The J&K administration right from the abrogation of Article 370 has been pitching for making the function of the system hassle-free, and, in a way, a road was being cleared for J&K to be the endpoint of global investments. In that direction, the Government has solely relied on Gulf so far concerning the investment and has not looked anywhere else to date. The confinement too talks of the Government’s intent of providing businesspeople of the Gulf good conducive atmosphere as the much-awaited process of investment and opening up of Kashmir to the world begins.
However, the investments have got both sides associated which need to be analysed and addressed. While the investments will surely boost the economy, there is a need for ensuring that human resources from J&K are only used by the business establishments and that there is a need for having homogeneity in that. At the same time, there is also a need for preserving the cultural identity of the place which cannot be overlooked and compensated at any cost.
Recently, the Government stated that over 4000 proposals were received by J&K for the allotment of the land—for this, there is a need for manoeuvring quite carefully. J&K is land-locked and needs to be gradually opened up for large scale business ventures. For years, J&K has been a state with a moderate industrial sector and if the Government decides to open all the gates at once, then the fury will soon be there to be seen. Also, the boost to the economy cannot be at the cost of the fragile ecology—that is the clause that needs to be added to the agreements whenever the process begins.
The opening up of J&K to the globe and the subsequent investments would be a game-changer for all the traditional business sectors of Kashmir, in particular. The direct link or the direct operations would pave a way for the Kashmiri products to find a better space and recognition in the global markets, particularly Gulf countries which it has been craving for decades. The time has come to push the J&K economy further and at the same time, the identity, as well as the essence of a place like J&K, is also to be ensured.
