Economic Advisor and Secretary Coir Board of the Union Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) DPS Negi today visited the frontier district of Kupwara and chaired a meeting with all stakeholders of industries and entrepreneurial sector especially MSME, KVIB & NSIC to examine appropriate project proposals to fast-track incubation and development of micro small and medium enterprises in the district.The meeting was attended by DC Kupwara Khalid Jahangir, Director Industries and Commerce, Director KVIB, Secretary KVIB, AD MSME, General Manager DIC Kupwara, AD Handicrafts, AD Handlooms, industrialists, entrepreneurs of the district and others concerned.Negi discussed various prospects for promotion of MSMEs with industrialists and entrepreneurs of the district. He appreciated their suggestion in this direction and offered warm assurance towards realizing proposals put forward by them.DC informed the chair about the economic viability of potential industrial sectors like walnut processing, marble manufacturing, agriculture production, Horticulture, Tourism represented by the pristine Bangus and Lolab Valleys in the district.
Negi suggested for promoting the growth of Handicrafts, handlooms and other traditional art forms that create employment, a separate Detailed Project Report (DPR) shall be submitted for consideration of Union Ministry of MSME towards rejuvenating the art of Wood carving and Kani shawl in the district.He expressed optimism in giving go-ahead for the establishment of Crewel Shawl Cluster and Honey Production Cluster (Apiculture) in the next meeting scheduled on 29th of this month.He said that Kupwara with the abundance of natural resources has been chosen as an Aspirational District keeping in mind the remoteness and frontier nature of its topography and the purpose of this visit is to chalk out ways to maximize utilization of resources for empowering people with minimal impact on environmental sustainability.Representatives of various departments including industrialists and entrepreneurs urged support for the promotion of agriculture and allied sectors towards bettering the living standards of all those associated with these sectors and sought serious consideration of Government of India in this regard.Negi termed the interaction with the concerned as fruitful and ensured timely redressal of demands raised in line with the directions issued by GOI in this regard.