The Department of Industries & Commerce, Jammu & Kashmir, on Monday, 8 June, organised a UT-level Internal Consultative Workshop at the Convention Centre, Jammu, centred on the theme 'Industrial Corridors & Plug-and-Play Infrastructure: State Readiness for Global Manufacturing.' The event forms part of a structured national consultation process led by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, in preparation for a National Departmental Summit proposed for July 2026.

Context and National Framework

The workshop sits within a broader Centre-State consultative framework that emerged from the 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries. The initiative is designed to strengthen India's manufacturing competitiveness by aligning industrial infrastructure development, logistics integration, investment facilitation, skill development, and policy reform with the requirements of global manufacturing value chains. Jammu & Kashmir is among the Union Territories being assessed for readiness under this nationwide exercise.

Key Addresses and Emphasis

Dr. Arun Kumar Manhas, Director, Industries & Commerce, Jammu, delivered the welcome address. Vikramjit Singh, Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce, gave the inaugural address, stressing the need to leverage India's evolving geopolitical position to J&K's industrial advantage.

Singh described the consultation as 'a valuable opportunity for Jammu and Kashmir to present its industrial strengths, identify infrastructure gaps and articulate region-specific challenges before the national policy-making framework.' He noted that the Union Territory holds significant untapped potential for manufacturing-led growth and must use such platforms to attract targeted investments and policy support.

Workshop Structure and Discussions

The workshop featured two thematic sessions facilitated by the Invest India team, followed by an extensive open-house discussion. Deliberations were anchored on four key pillars identified by DPIIT: Land & Industrial Infrastructure Assets, Connectivity & Gateway Infrastructure, Skills & Innovation Ecosystem, and Policy, Institutions & Regulations.

The open-house session allowed stakeholders from different regions and sectors to share practical insights, highlight sector-specific challenges, and propose measures to improve the ease and competitiveness of industrial development in J&K. Notably, the format was designed to ensure that perspectives from across the Union Territory were comprehensively captured for submission to DPIIT.

Stakeholders and Participation

The event drew participation from district representatives, Administrative Secretaries from multiple departments, and prominent industry bodies. Attendees included Manik Batra, Chairman, Assocham J&K Council; Parveen Pargal, Member, National Executive, Laghu Udyog Bharti; Harvinder Singh, President, Small and Tiny Industry; Rakesh Sharma, President, CIC-J&K; and Rakesh Bhat, Co-Chairperson, FICCI. Senior officers from the Industries and Commerce Department also attended.

What Comes Next

The insights and recommendations consolidated from this and related consultations will be submitted to DPIIT, ensuring J&K's industrial priorities, infrastructure needs, and growth aspirations are reflected in the deliberations at the upcoming National Summit. The exercise is aligned with the broader vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. With the National Summit slated for July 2026, J&K's ability to present a cohesive, data-backed industrial roadmap will be critical to securing targeted central support.