JAMMU: J&K BJP President and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma raised an issue regarding accelerating foreign investment and industrial development in Jammu & Kashmir, seeking details on proposals received from international investors, sectors attracting foreign investment, and initiatives taken by the Union Government to promote industrial and manufacturing growth in the Union Territory in the Rajya Sabha.
Replying to the question, Union Minister for Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal informed the House that the Government of India has undertaken a series of major initiatives to strengthen the industrial ecosystem across the country, including Jammu & Kashmir. These include flagship programmes such as Make in India, Ease of Doing Business, Startup India, Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes, One District One Product (ODOP), the Industrial Information System, the Single Window System for investment clearances, and the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP), aimed at creating world-class manufacturing hubs with modern infrastructure.
The Minister further informed that the recently launched Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA) seeks to develop 100 investment-ready industrial parks across the country with a financial outlay of ₹33,660 crore, providing assistance of up to ₹1 crore per acre for eligible infrastructure components. Jammu & Kashmir will also benefit from this nationwide initiative.
Giving specific details about Jammu & Kashmir, the Minister stated that the Government has implemented Special Package I & II, the Industrial Development Scheme (IDS)-2017, and the New Central Sector Scheme (NCSS)-2021 to accelerate industrialization, attract investment, and generate employment. Under NCSS, 918 industrial units have registered with proposed investments worth ₹12,665.47 crore. Out of 398 eligible units, 292 have already commenced commercial production after grounding investments of approximately ₹3,415 crore, generating employment for nearly 29,000 people.
The Government also informed that Jammu & Kashmir has notified the Industrial Policy 2021-30, Industrial Land Allotment Policy, Private Industrial Estate Development Policy, and the Policy for Promotion of Foreign Investment in the Industrial Sector to create a favourable investment climate. Under this policy, three foreign investment proposals worth ₹500 crore have already been received. During FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26, foreign investment inflows were reported in sectors including food processing, computer software and hardware, pharmaceuticals, trading, hotel & tourism, and services.
Sat Sharma said that the reply reflects the Union Government's sustained commitment under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to transform Jammu & Kashmir into a vibrant investment destination. He said the Centre's focused industrial policies, infrastructure development, and investor-friendly reforms are opening new avenues for employment generation, entrepreneurship, manufacturing, and economic growth across the Union Territory.
He reiterated that the BJP-led Government remains committed to ensuring that the people of Jammu & Kashmir fully benefit from the region's growing industrial potential and the increasing confidence of both domestic and foreign investors.
