FOIJ Urges Govt to Support Existing Industries, Not Ignore Them Amid New Investments

• Local MSMEs Appeal for Reinforced Marketing Support Through Government Procurement Policies

Jammu, 06-08-2025: A meeting of the Federation of Industries, Jammu, was held today under the chairmanship of Sh. Virendra Jain and attended by its co-chairmen, Sh. Jatinder Aul,  Sh. S.C. Dutta, Sh. Ajit Bawa among others Sh. Viraaj Malhotra, Secretary General, Sh. Sanjay Langar, Convener and other Office Bearers of Federation of Industries, Jammu.

 In the meeting, the members expressed their worries regarding the pathetic condition of existing industry in J&K. The FOIJ appreciated the efforts of the Govt. to bring new industry to J&K but on the other hand the Govt. is ignoring and neglecting the existing industry. It is worthwhile to mention here that the Existing Industries have been the Backbone of the Region’s Economy, especially during the most challenging times, such as the Era of Militancy. These Industries continued to operate despite limited Market Avenues, Hostile Neighbors, and Locational Disadvantages. Sir, Govt. provided the incentives to the industry of J&K for providing a level paying field as Industry in J&K is bearing high input cost and incurring higher cost of production.

 The FOIJ invites the attention of the Govt. towards the declared/committed incentives which are Turnover Incentives, SGST reimbursement incentives not being released on time bound basis which negates the seriousness of the Govt. to support ailing industry of J&K.

The FOIJ emphasize the need to extend the Power Amnesty Scheme to industrial unit also, providing relief from accumulated power dues and helping them regain financial stability.

 The FOIJ urges the Govt. that the Govt. should consider, the Units applied under NCSS package whose documents are uploaded but have been denied incentives. We recommend the formulation of New Industrial Policy and package of incentives must be issued for a period of 10 years.

Further, there should be no discrimination between the new and existing industries and industries undergoing substantial expansion/change of line of activity/additional line of activity for operative part of incentives so that existing industry may be able to run smoothly.

FOIJ wishes to bring the attention of the Govt. towards the Marketing Support. J&K Govt. has withdrawn purchase/preference provided to the local/micro/small manufacturers through industrial policies of 1995, 2004, 2016 and 2021 for the procurement by the various Governments/Agencies. The withdrawal of purchase preference has left hundreds of local/micro/small manufacturers jobless who are engaged in manufacturing of the material consumed by various Govt. departments such as PDD, PHE, Education, Social Welfare, Forest, Flood Control etc. These units were established to cater the requirement of such departments. It is  pertinent to mention here that the purchase preference is still available in most of the industries developed states where as it is being denied to the entrepreneurs of industrially underdeveloped J&K UT.

FOIJ requests Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, Sh. Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Chief Minster Jenab Omar Abdullah and Hon’ble Dy. Chief Minister Sh. Surinder Chowdhary to take the matter of the industry seriously and come to the rescue of the existing industry as on today the industry needs a survival package.