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Srinagar: Ahead of the
interaction between a galaxy of the country's corporate bosses and
students of Kashmir University here Friday, local businessmen and
industrialists are hopeful of investments in the state.
Speaking to IANS, Abdul Hamid Punjabi, chairman of the local
chambers of commerce and industry, said: "Hopefully they are
coming to explore investment opportunities in Kashmir."
"We badly need corporate investments to create job opportunities
and give a boost to the local economy. Biggies of Indian corporate
world coming to Srinagar is definitely welcome, I hope their high
profile visit proves beneficial for the local economy."
In what is a first since independence, the who's who of India Inc,
including Tata Group chairperson Ratan Tata and Aditya Birla
Group's Kumar Mangalam Birla, Bajaj Auto managing director Rajiv
Bajaj, Wipro Group chief Azim Premji and HDFC's Deepak Parekh,
would interact with the students along with Congress leader Rahul
Gandhi.
Sources at the Taj Vivanta resort here confirmed that Ratan Tata
and other leaders of industry would arrive here Friday morning.
"Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi would be present during
tomorrow's (Friday's)interaction to allay fears of the corporate
bosses about future investments in Kashmir," sources in the
Congress told IANS.
Gowhar Maqbool, a local hotelier, said: "Kashmir has a huge
investment potential in tourism, healthcare, IT, handicrafts and
agriculture. The only problem is that we need the first positive
step in this direction from the captains of industry."
"Once that happens, sky would be the limit for outside investments
in Kashmir. Kashmir has all the potential to become the investors'
heaven," he said.
"On the face of it, it needs to be seen as a welcome step because
it can give an impetus to our economy," said Sheikh Ashiq, a
leading entrepreneur and presidential candidate for Kashmir
Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Kashmir Hoteliers Club general secretary Syed Masadid Shah termed
it a "very good sign for the Valley's industrial sector as it can
bring investments into the state".
Shah, who runs the prominent food chain Moti Mahal, said:
"Collaborations can give good business provided they do not hamper
the basics of the Kashmir economy."
During his visit to Kashmir University last year, Gandhi had
promised to bring leaders of country's corporate world and
persuade them to invest here.
Many students during a free and frank interaction with Gandhi
expressed fears about their future since Kashmir had very few
employment avenues in the private sector.
"I promise to bring in the leaders of country's corporate world so
that they start their ventures in Kashmir," Gandhi said last year.
"He has stood by his promise. Now what remains to be seen is
whether the corporate bosses take investment opportunities in
Kashmir seriously," said a student of the university, a day before
the interaction.
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