SRINAGAR: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Chaudhary on Monday chaired a high-level review meeting of the Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) to assess the ongoing implementation of the J&K Startup Policy 2024–27. He emphasised the need for swift operationalisation of policy mechanisms, prioritising global mentorship collaborations and streamlined funding support for young entrepreneurs.
Held at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar, the meeting was attended by senior officials including Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Vikramjit Singh; Secretary in the Industries & Commerce Department and Director JKEDI, Khalid Jahangir; Managing Director, JKTPO; Director Finance and Director Planning of the Industries & Commerce Department; and members of the JKEDI startup team.
During the meeting, Secretary Khalid Jahangir, who also oversees JKEDI, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the progress of the Startup Policy, highlighting metrics such as the number of startups registered, awareness and outreach events, and shortlisted ventures for seed funding.
Officials informed the Deputy Chief Minister about Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed by JKEDI with leading national and state-level institutions aimed at providing mentorship, technical guidance, and knowledge exchange.
In a key directive, Deputy CM Chaudhary called for strategic partnerships with reputed national and international institutions to mentor and accelerate startup growth in Jammu and Kashmir. He underlined the importance of building a robust ecosystem that can guide young entrepreneurs from ideation to market-ready ventures.
To strengthen entrepreneurial awareness at the grassroots level, the Deputy CM instructed officials to conduct targeted outreach through idea challenges, business plan competitions, and innovation workshops across schools and colleges in the Union Territory.
“Creating clarity of thought among young innovators is critical,” he said. “Such early-stage engagement will help shape viable business models that can succeed in the market.”
Recognising infrastructure as a key enabler, Chaudhary also directed that co-working spaces at JKEDI’s Pampore and Bari Brahmana campuses be made available to eligible startups at the earliest, providing them with an affordable and collaborative environment to scale up operations.
He further suggested that select students be given structured exposure to startup functioning through dedicated sessions under the guidance of the Commissioner Secretary of the Industries & Commerce Department.
To expedite implementation, the Deputy CM called for the prompt finalisation of operational guidelines and funding frameworks under the Startup Policy. He noted that a clearly defined mechanism for financial support is essential to enable entrepreneurs to access seed and growth capital.
“These steps are not only about policy,” said Chaudhary. “They are about building a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem that can transform J&K’s economic landscape and empower our youth.”
The J&K Startup Policy 2024–27 aims to encourage innovation, facilitate ease of doing business for startups, and create employment opportunities across sectors. The JKEDI has been designated as the nodal agency to oversee its implementation.
