Binoo Joshi
JK News Today Commentary
Jammu, January 14:
Something is changing in Kashmir at a speed surprising almost everyone . Kashmir, known as a world class tourist destination for centuries , Is in news for becoming a vibrant hub for investment by the big business houses and the Corporate world. This change has wider perspectives than mere bringing money that will build infrastructure and high-class institutions with vast potential to generate employment . It is going to change the image of Kashmir from a conflict zone to some sort of Silicon Valley in making . It is no exaggeration .
Some of the headlines , dotting the Gulf newspapers – Khaleej Times ran the headlines spoke of the business and investment agreements – the change in the headlines and the content reflected the new evolving image of Kashmir . It has been possible due to the personal initiatives of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha , who has taken it as a mission to help J&K come out of the dark images of the past.
On January 6, the Gulf News published , “ In a show of solidarity towards the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir ( J&K) in India , several UAE -based business houses signed Memorandum of Understandings and Letters of Intent to establish robust bilateral trade ties. Five MoUs were signed at Emirates Towers.”
A generally accepted presumption is that it all kickstarted when a Real estate Summit was hosted in Jammu on December 2021. That is true as far as the optics were concerned . But it was culmination of a long-drawn process undertaken by Manoj Sinha who had pledged to transform the landscape of Jammu and Kashmir – from barren land where the conflict was so wide-ranging that it was taken as a fait accompli that nothing positive can happen here. This jinx had to be broken with a practical strategy that would invoke hope among the people that they can do it.
A step-by-step approach by the LG administration helped the things to reach at a pedestal wherefrom J&K could take a high jump to higher pedestals, excelling in all fields . The standard rules had to be applied ; primary of which was to ensure that Kashmir is looked at through a prism of a place that holds promise for safe investment, for that peace is the basic necessity . Pakistan sponsored terrorism was the biggest hurdle, because the violence of any nature or dimension, particularly the terrorism driven , kills prospects of development, investment, employment.
The ecosystem of terrorism, constructed by the vested interests and Pakistan, suffered a big dent when Article 370 was abrogated and all the barriers for development were demolished. Two-pronged strategy appeared on the scene- relentless operations against the terrorists and their supporters, including harbourers, and generating a narrative of development through welfare schemes , making natives as stakeholders in partnership with their fellow citizens in the country . Legal hurdles were removed one by one , and then came the era of actual work , building of infrastructures, reaching out to the people , by making basic necessities like tapped water and power supply and smooth connectivity through a maze of road network.
At the real estate summit in Jammu , thousands of crores of investment came through in health care, hospitality and entertainment sector , and in Dubai several groups signed MoUs to undertake capacity building of J&K to the world-class matching standards . UAE’s LuLu Group , J&K government signed MoU to set up food processing hub in Srinagar. DP World was engaged to build inland port in J&K . These are few examples of the investment making way to J&K .
The Real Estate Summit was followed by signing of the memorandums of understanding between the big players in the global investment based in United Arab Emirates and Jammu and Kashmir government . The picture, it will shape , in the landscape of the Union Territory , promises a bright future for generations , and at the moment it will certainly change the way Kashmir is looked at .
Dubai for the world represents success story in almost all spheres of economy , and in the recent years, it has catapulted itself as a big -strategic affairs guiding nation . the sum and substance can be deduced from the way it fostered its ties with Israel , and that became a catalyst for other nations to follow the suit.
Internationally , it delivered a sound message to the world that Kashmir where guns used to boom is now a fertile land for investment . The investment holds unlimited promise of growth and shaping altogether a new future for the place and the people , as that would paper Kashmir’s image as a land of conflict. Investment is the biggest antidote to the elements of terrorism . The economy is the bonding force , and nowadays nothing matters more than the economic well-being.
