Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Nirmal Singh today described the environment of Jammu and Kashmir most friendly and appropriate for investment and urged the big business houses to establish their units in the state.Deputy Chief Minister said this after laying the foundation stone of Manufacturing Unit of Blue Star Limited here at Samba.Blue Star is setting up a modern, state-of-the-art factory at Samba, spanning over 18 acres of land to meet the requirements of its fast growing unitary products business, and keeping in mind the future capacity over the next 10 years. This involves an initial investment of Rs 150 crores in Phase I, with more investments planned in the following phases of development. The Plant will primarily manufacture room air conditioners, deep freezers, water coolers and water purifiers.Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Prakash Ganga, Vice Chairman, Jammu and Kashmir State Advisory Board for Welfare and Development of Other Backward Classes, Rashpaul Verma, MLA Samba Dr Devinder Kumar Manyal, Chairman Blue Star Limited, Ashok M Advani, Vice Chairman Blue Star Limited, Suneel M Advani and Managing Director, Blue Star Limited Vir Advani were also present on the occasion.
Describing the occasion as a historic moment, Dr Singh said that establishment manufacturing unit of India’s leading air conditioner and commercial refrigerator manufacturing company in J&K will definitely boost the state’s economy and encourage other big business houses to follow the suite. He said investments by big houses in the state would open new job avenues and boost its economy.Dr Singh congratulated the management of Blue Star Limited for choosing Jammu and Kashmir to invest in the prestigious project. He assured all possible help to the top management of the company in setting up of the plant and for their future investments in the state.He expressed his hope that the company will introduce the best of automation in this new facility, actualizing the country’s vision of ‘Make in India’.Reiterating the government’s commitment to develop industrial sector in the state, Deputy Chief Minister said that the State Industrial Policy provides for ‘Single Window Committees’ to fast-track clearance of cases pertaining to investment in production industry. He said that 24x7 power supply is being provided to the industrial sector which was the long pending demand of the industrialists.
He further invited the big houses to invest in hospitality sector to further boost tourism sector in the state.“Jammu and Kashmir has huge potential in tourism sector and the government is ready to provide all possible support to the investors interested in investing in this growing industry”, he said.
Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Prakash Ganga said that the government is committed to provide a hassle-free investment environment for industrialists in Jammu and Kashmir.“Economy of any nation or state is linked with the growth of its industrial sector and industrialization can easily bring the change in the society”, he said.The Minister asked the management of the company to employ local youth on priority and also engage women of the area to make them self reliant. He also said that the government is focusing on skill development of youth to make them capable of meeting requirements of industries.The Minister assured full support to the company for setting up of manufacturing plant in the state and said that industries department will help them as and when required.MLA Samba also spoke on the occasion and urged the management to compensate the land owners by providing them jobs on priority.Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Blue Star Limited, Ashok M Advani assured to engage maximum manpower locally for its human resource needs. He said that the Blue Star Jammu factory is planned to be a world-class manufacturing hub with superior aesthetics and ergonomics coupled with state-of-art technology.Director Industries Jammu, R S Tara, SSP Samba Joginder Singh, senior officers of Industries department, management of Blue Star Limited and local people were present on the occasion.