SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has expressed strong resentment over its exclusion from the recently reconstituted Boards of Directors of key public sector undertakings in Jammu and Kashmir. These include the J&K State Industrial Development Corporation Limited (SIDCO), J&K Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited (SICOP), Jammu and Kashmir Cements Limited (JKCL), Jammu and Kashmir Handicrafts and Handloom Corporation (JKHHC), Jammu and Kashmir Industries Limited (JKIL), and the J&K Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB).
In a statement, the KCCI registered a vehement objection, citing the move as a blow to the representational integrity of these boards. The chamber argued that the absence of local stakeholders, particularly those from the business community, undermines the boards’ capacity to craft meaningful and effective policies for handicrafts and industry. Historically, the KCCI has held representation on these boards, serving as a voice for the region’s entrepreneurial and industrial interests.
The chamber highlighted its pivotal role in shaping policies and advocating for the interests of the handicrafts and industrial sectors in the past. It described the exclusion as a troubling disregard for the expertise and contributions of organisations like the KCCI, which possess deep insights into the local business landscape. The absence of such representation, the KCCI warned, risks rendering decisions ineffective or counterproductive.
Stressing the importance of grassroots perspectives, the KCCI underscored that local representation is essential to developing policies that encourage investment, address regional challenges, and drive sustainable growth. The chamber noted that local stakeholders provide invaluable knowledge, ensuring policies are realistic and tailored to the sector’s needs.
The KCCI called for the immediate restoration of its representation on these boards and high-level decision-making committees. It emphasised that engagement with apex business chambers like the KCCI is crucial for fostering collaboration, transparency, and a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir. Reaffirming its commitment to regional growth, the KCCI urged the government to recognise the importance of consulting local representatives to devise purposeful and effective policies.
