KCCI meets Union MoS for I&C, submits memorandum

Srinagar: Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCC&I) President, Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad and General Secretary, Farooq Amin met Union Minister of State, for Industries and Commerce, Som Parkash, at SKICC, Srinagar and presented a memorandum listing issues and recommendations the business community is fraught with over the years.

According to a statement issued here, they underlined the issues and suggestions with the minister in the meeting and memorandum. As part of the centre’s outreach programme, the minister was apprised of the slump in economic activities due to continuous disruptions over past few years and their adverse impact on local business establishments.

“The overall losses incurred over the years have resulted in an unprecedented level of stress on the working capital and finances of the local business establishments. Though there have been several interventions by the Government for extending support but the continuous cycle of disruptions has failed their objectives,” the memorandum read.

The nineteen point memorandum presented to the minister details various issues and suggestions. KCCI demanded full Loan Waiver for small borrowers like artisans, weavers, farmers, transporters including auto-rickshaws and taxi cabs, shikara-wallahs, Travel Agents/ Tour operators, ATV & Ski Scooter Operators, Small Shop-Keepers, pony wallahs etc. up to two lacs.

Similarly KCCI also suggested that for accounts under stress but standard, a 30 % Capital infusion coupled with re- structuring of the accounts needs to be done with repayment schedule of 07-10 years.

“For accounts which are NPA post 2014 and need revival package, it is suggested that deep re-structuring which converts their principle liability into a term loan with waiver in the unapplied interest similar capital infusion upto 20%. A fairly extended repayment schedule of about 07-10 years is made applicable to them,” the memorandum read.

According to memorandum, a standardized OTS Policy needs to be framed in view of the situation on the ground instead of focusing on the amount of collateral security provided by the borrower. It also suggested that that 70% of the amount outstanding on the date of being declared NPA should be the final OTS amount out of which 30% should be borne by the Government with a substantial payback period in line with RBI guidelines.

“In the case of self-financed business establishments having no bank exposure, it is suggested a suitable capital infusion for such establishments on softer interest rates be made available,” read the suggestions in memorandum adding that GST reimbursement for the amount paid by the MSME sector is delayed inordinately and needs to be released in the time bound manner as committed by the government.

As exporters are facing lot of challenges and difficulties KCCI said that Kashmir is at the far end of India without logistic support as it has no dry port. As a result export goods reach Delhi with higher fare rates resulting losing the competition at international level.

Keeping these geographical limitations in consideration issues in considerations freight subsidies both air and road should be given to exporters from Jammu & Kashmir as they can’t compete with others who are close to ports.

The memorandum suggested that State  and Centre Government must  come  up  with the  attractive schemes  so  that  our  entrepreneurs who are educated and unemployed youth will attract towards  this Export Industry.

In order to promote that local dying handicrafts industry, KCCI demanded handmade items should be exempted from taxes like GST. “To preserve the livelihood of Weavers, Artisans, Traders, Exporters and also the famous art of Cottage Industry, the GST must be waived off on Pashmina Shawls, Carpets, Papier Machie, Crewel, Chain Stitch, Wood Carving,” it said. Further it suggested that Union Territory   Government must come up with Special Schemes for Exporters based on their performance and turnover basis. “Government should declare Special Scheme in which  10% incentives be given to the exporter  yearly  on performance / turnover basic to encourage the exporters and boost Kashmir  Handicrafts,” one of the points in memorandum read.

KCCI further presented demands regarding Silk Carpets which contains more than 60% silk should be given 7% incentives in RODTEP Scheme to encourage and boost Silk Handmade Carpets in Kashmir. Also there should be a separate ITC (HS) code for Pashmina Shawls and verified by the competent testing laboratory.  “No capping should be placed on Pashmina Shawls or other value added handicraft items under RODTEP Scheme,” the memorandum reads.

Government should give all the benefits to Kashmir Handicrafts and declare it as Special Economic Zone and also develop warehousing facility at International Airport.

It also aggrieved that the Department connected with the Exporters such as Banks, ECGC, DGFT do not provide the required awareness to the exporters and facilitate the ease out process.

It also highlighted the need of government to promote Carpet Village/City in Sumbal, Sonawari a home of more than 20,000.  The Artisans / Weavers available should be identified as Modal Carpet Village which already exists as per Industrial land bank availability. 200 Kanals of land should be initially provided to manufacturers / exporters in an organized way and Stake Holders should be asked to apply online and submit relevant DPR as per their capacity. The infrastructure with this Carpet Village/ City should be fully supported and incent-wise in the form of 90:10 due to the present situation of carpet business in Kashmir. “This Carpet Village should be installed with all Common Facility Centers wherein Design Development, Dying, Washing, Bank Facilities, Packing,” the memorandum reads as promoting this Carpet Village Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters will come out with the new innovations and designs to cater the International Market.

The memorandum demanded to  give incentives  like export subsidy to Silk Handmade Carpets which are exported  at a 10% from Jammu & Kashmir region as per Government Order No: 54-IND of 2020 Dated: 10-03-2020(Jammu and Kashmir Wool Processing, Handloom, Handicraft, Policy-2020). It also stressed on    government to support the present manufacturer and exporter to sustain in this present turmoil as most of the accounts are either stressed or turned NPA’s.

KCCI also requested the appointment of Joint Director General Of Foreign Trade (DGFT at Srinagar permanently as problems were expeditiously solved.

It also apprised minister that entrepreneurs  approached KCCI that Ban  on Power sanctions for the  use of Electric, Induction and Arc Furnaces  and  implementation  of  Steel  Scrap Recycling Policy must  be looked into  so that  their  business units functioned smoothly.  The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry has felt the need of having Expo Marts for Handicrafts products   and Carpets were we can Exhibit our products to International Buyers.

“Inland Container Depo in   Kashmir will be created which will help our exporters to export directly from Srinagar and increase the products which we are exporting not only but also the volume of present export,” the memorandum presented to the Minister of State, for Industries and Commerce, Som Parkash read.

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