Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Aug 27: Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) delegation comprising Gourav Mahajan, Regional Director ASSOCHAM North and Amit Khajuria, Assistant Director, ASSOCHAM J&K, Ladakh accompanied by Gelek Phunchuk, a local entrepreneur here today met Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) of Commerce, led by Member Parliament, V. Vijayasai Reddy.
The delegation demanded UT level line of credit/winter loan for Ladakh industries and setting up Ladakh Trade Promotion Organisation (LTPO) on the line of JKTPO.
“Ladakh is a place which remains shut for almost six months and the manufacturers of this UT cannot sell their products in the market during that period. They need some financial support like line of credit or winter loan for this period at a lesser rate of interest, so that they can buy raw material by September-October and sell their products in the market in March-April,” said Gourav Mahajan.
“Ladakh has lot of potential, but the entrepreneurs of this newly formed UT need Government’s handholding and more awareness campaigns on Government schemes and policies, specifically during this transition phase,” he added.
The delegation informed the PSC that Ladakh has lot of exclusive products like Pashmina, apricot, seabuckthorn etc which needs to be showcased and promoted on national and international platforms.
“Ladakh needs a dedicated Trade promotion Organisation to help local entrepreneurs to take Ladakhi products to international markets,” said Amit Khajuria.
“Most of the entrepreneurs of Ladkah are first generation entrepreneurs, the labour is not skilled and they lack exposure. Government should organise some skill development programmes in Ladakh so that they can produce best quality products on competitive rates,” he added.
ASSOCHAM also suggested subsidy on freight as it is a landlocked UT with a very difficult terrain and most of the products are being exported and imported by air only.
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