Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 28: Jammu and Kashmir Industries and Commerce Department today organized a meeting with several trade, industries and related associations at Udyog Bhawan which was chaired by Joint Secretary Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Government of India, Rajendra Ratnoo.
During a series of discussions, various business and trade associations and other stakeholders gave their suggestions and ideas to further promote the industries and commerce sector.
Ratnoo said that the main objective of conducting such meeting is to receive vital inputs, suggestions and to know the expectations of the stakeholders from the Union Government.
The meeting was attended by the Director, Industries and Commerce, Anoo Malhotra, Managing Director SIDCO, Ravinder Kumar besides senior functionaries of concerned departments.
Various suggestions were received from representatives of Federation of Industries Jammu, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chamber of Trader Federation, All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association and Jammu Hotel Restaurant and Bar Association.
The representatives from various Associations advocated for rationalization of GST rates, re-imbursement of GST on pattern of industries, promotion of tourism, simplification of GST rules, besides demanded for regularization of real estate and promoting religious tourism.
They also highlighted demands related to extension of budgetary support, refund of GST, toll tax, incentive benefits to tourism sector at par with industry sector, skill development, funds to develop dry ports besides strengthening the road connectivity to Industrial areas.
Representatives also raised the issues related to present State Fiscal Incentives for Micro and Small Scale Sector of the state, freight subsidy, GST refund claims, Power Amnesty, reimbursement incentives of State Budgetary support, Toll Tax, Industrial units engaged in the manufacturing of cement, bricks and cement tiles, self certification mechanism for annual assessment of raw material ,finished goods for toll tax, negative list, e-way bill for intra-state movement of industrial goods, toll tax on the import of packaging material for outside the state, toll tax on export of raw material /scrap meant for MSME units available in the state, State Fiscal incentives to new units under substantial expansion, toll tax on raw material of exportable items, and many alike.
To increase the tourist footfall in Jammu region, All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association requested for separate fund for publicity of Jammu tourism, development of various tourist destinations including Mubarak Mandi Heritage complex ,border tourism , mono rail project , Jammu , Tawi bank, wild life sanctuary and alike.
The Joint Secretary assured the delegation that the suggestions as discussed will be put forth to the higher authorities. He asked the Industrial delegations to consider the suggestion of holding campus selections and industrial trainings to ITI students to generate local skilled employment.
Anoo Malhotra while speaking in the meeting said that the existing industries will be encouraged to sustain and expand in Jammu and Kashmir.