Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 2: In a significant step towards strengthening economic ties and promoting bilateral trade, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) today interacted with Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan during which they also pitched for direct flights from Srinagar to Saudi Arabia as well as organizing a Tourism FAM tour.
The meeting took place at the Jammu & Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization (JKTPO) office, where the Managing Director of JKTPO, Khalid Jahangir, had organized the event.
Led by KCCI President Javed Ahmad Tenga, the KCCI delegation included Senior Vice President Ashaq Shangloo, Secretary General Faiz Bakshi, and EC member Lateef Ahmad Bhat.
The purpose of the meeting, KCC&I said, was to discuss various initiatives aimed at promoting the region’s handicrafts, carpets, shawls, tourism, horticulture exports, and establishing direct air connectivity between Kashmir and Saudi Arabia.
During the meeting, the KCCI team emphasized the importance of organizing marketing promotion exhibitions, fairs, marts, and roadshows to showcase Kashmiri products.
They sought the ambassador’s assistance in facilitating buyer-seller meets, reverse buyer-seller meets, buyer-to-buyer meets, and inter-chamber consultations.
“These initiatives would enable local entrepreneurs and exporters to gain market access for Kashmiri products, which already have a presence in Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries,” KCC&I said.
Recognizing the potential of Kashmir’s tourism sector, the KCCI also requested the ambassador’s support in organizing a Tourism FAM Tour from Saudi Arabia. “The objective of the tour would be to showcase the region’s incomparable natural beauty and landscapes, attracting tourists from the country,” he added.
The KCCI, on the occasion, also highlighted the fact that approximately 50,000 pilgrims from Kashmir perform Umrah each year but face the inconvenience of indirect travel due to the absence of direct flights from Srinagar.
They sought the ambassador’s assistance in raising this issue at an appropriate level, which would provide much-needed relief to the pilgrims.
President of KCCI, Javed Ahmad Tenga, also apprised the ambassador of the ongoing engagement between KCCI and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce for investment and other associated matters.
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