Declare Kashmir as SEZ for gem and jewellery items: Traders

Srinagar, Apr 25 (UNI) A traders body in Kashmir has accused successive governments at the Centre and in the state of neglecting the once vibrant gem and jewellery industry, and urged the authorities to declare the entire Valley as a special economic zone (SEZ) for export promotion of these products.

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) members stated this in a meeting with the officials of the Centre's Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council here last evening.

KCCI Senior Vice President Nazir Ahmad Dar told the visiting Regional Chairman Rajesh Khanna and Regional Director K K Duggal that the world famous sapphire with peacock blue neck colour, that originates from Padder area of Kishtwar in the Jammu region, needs to be taken up as a cluster for export promotion.

Despite pursuing the matter with the authorities during the past eight years, he said the government has not floated tenders for exploitation of this treasure at Padder.

Mr Dar said if the stocks at Padder were utilised these could generate Rs 6000 to Rs 8000 crore revenue for the state that would significantly help in addressing the unemployment problem.

''After abolition of the gold control order, a need is being felt for a jewellery cluster in Kashmir,'' he added.

Mr Dar said the KCCI has recommended setting up of gem and jewellery exchanges with facilities such as appraiser and testing laboratory for precious stones.

He told the visiting delegation that there were no retail outlets for sale and purchase of gold bars in Kashmir which would have ensured the availability of raw material to the industry.

Mr Dar said the entire Kashmir valley should be declared as a SEZ for export and marketing of gem and jewellery items.

Former KCCI President Mohammad Ibrahim Shahdad said it was an irony that the Rs 80,000 crore industry that shares 16 per cent of the total exports from India has been of no advantage to Kashmir.

He said the Export Promotion Council (EPC) since its establishment about 41 years ago has done nothing for Kashmir.

Mr Shahdad said the EPC should launch training programmes in Kashmir for a large number of unemployed educated youth.

The KCCI members criticised the successive governments at the Centre and the state for neglecting the gem and jewellery industry in Kashmir, and sought separate budget allocations for its revival.

The visiting delegation assured the KCCI that the issues would be taken up with the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industries who was visiting Kashmir in the second week of May.

UNI