Category: Business

Business

Flood-hit traders demand separate rehab package

Editor

Warn of mass movement if Centre fails to ‘redesign’ relief The Valley traders today threatened to launch a mass movement if the Centre did not announce a separate package for the victims of last year’s September floods. “We will launch a mass movement if New Delhi fails to redesign the package in accordance with ground requirements…only Rs 800 crore has been earmarked for the so-called rehabilitation of traders even as floods destroyed Kashmir economy to the tune of Rs 1 lakh crore. Over 50,000 shops were destroyed in floods,” Mohammad…

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Valley apples everywhere but brand Kashmir nowhere in sight

Editor

Despite being one of the largest apple producing regions in the entire South Asia, Kashmir has not been able to establish its product as a brand across the markets. Kashmir produces 16 to 18 lakh tonnes of apple every year with bulk of the produce dispatched to different markets across India. However, the apple business here is yet to be granted the industry status. The bulk of Kashmir apple is branded and gets traded through the old and worn out traditional methods despite technological advancements in the field of horticulture.…

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Reconstitute Tourism Advisory Board: KCCI to govt

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The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) today demanded reconstitution of the recently formed Tourism Advisory Board. “While the chamber is considering all the pros and cons of the formation of the Advisory Board, it has been unanimously decided to take up the issue with the Chief Minister in an appropriate manner for reconstituting the same in consultation with the real tourism stakeholders,” KCCI secretary general Faiz Bakshi said after a meeting of the chamber here. Bakshi claimed that the board consisted of members most of whom are non-experts…

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Post floods, Valley aims for more tourist footfalls this winter

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To bring back visitors to the Valley in large numbers, the Tourism Department has decided to host a series of events in the winter. The tourism sector took a severe hit during the September floods last year. This year too, the arrivals have remained low, mainly due to bad weather. To promote tourism, the government has sent a team to Austria to promote Gulmarg with the aim of attracting high-end European tourists interested in adventure sports activities such as heli-skiing. In charge Director, Tourism, Mahmood Ahmad Shah said they were…

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Government constitutes 23-member ‘Tourism Advisory Board’

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Chaya, Burza, Siah, Tramboo among its members  The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted a Tourism Advisory Board under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. The Board comprises 23 members and a member Secretary  to advise and suggest measures for tourism development, promotion and publicity, creation of high end infrastructure and any other issue related to Tourism in the State. The members are Parvez Dewan IAS, Former Union Tourism Secretary, Dr. Lalit K Panwar IAS, Former Union Tourism Secretary, Umang Narula, IAS, Chairman cum Managing Director ITDC, Ashwani…

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New Delhi’s financial packages to JK ‘fail’ to bolster Kashmir economy

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The Rs 80000-crore financial package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Srinagar on November 7 may have gratified the PDP-BJP coalition government in the State, but doesn’t extend any hope about stimulating Kashmir’s own economic strength, experts have opined, citing ‘failure’ of a host of previous such financial packages in Kashmir. The present financial package is the third such economic package announced for J&K since 2002 when the then Prime Minister AtalBihari Vajpayee announced Rs 8687 crore package envisaging 26 projects. According to experts, a major share of the…

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TASK to organize road shows in major cities: Siah

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Travel Agents Society of Kashmir (TASK) is the oldest travel trade body which has been at the forefront of promoting Kashmir for tourism. Initially there were only nine members when its foundation was laid in 1968. Since then, TASK has promoted Kashmir and many of its members emerged as the leading travel agents in the State. Currently, TASK has 107 members. Recently one of its member Center Point Tours and Travels received national award. In its recent elections, TASK elected noted travel agent Mohamamd Ibrahim Siah as its new President.…

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Valley traders reject PM Modi’s package

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Say first rehabilitate flood-affected businessmen The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) today ‘rejected’ the Rs 80,000 crore package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. The Valley businessmen said the Centre should first rehabilitate flood-hit businessmen and that five-year plans would not provide immediate relief to them. “We have rejected the package…. Instead of an immediate relief package, the Prime Minister has made allocation of funds to the tune of Rs 80,000 crore to be spent over a period of five years. The Rs 44,000 crore financial…

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Package fails to cheer tourism stakeholders

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of Rs 2,241-crore package for the tourism sector has failed to enthuse stakeholders in the Kashmir valley. They said the announcement made by Modi yesterday dealt with the long-term development of the tourism sector, but the present issues facing the industry were not addressed. “The package mainly deals with long-term projects. There was no mention of any short-term or immediate compensation for the flood-hit tourism sector,” said Nasir Shah, coordinator, Tours and Travel Bodies and former chairman of the J&K Tourism Alliance. Shah said the…

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Kashmir Inc little excited over PM’s visit

Editor

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Srinagar on Saturday, the Kashmir business community is “little excited” as according to them the PM has “failed to keep his promise with the flood victims in the Valley.” Talking to us, President, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mushtaq Ahmad Wani said they had little hope about any rehabilitation package to be announced by the PM “as Kashmiris are now fed up with such promises.” “Our message is clear to the Government. In the first instance the flood victims should be rehabilitated,”…

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