KCCI, CCIJ to work together

Chambers for enhancing intra-trade ties between Kashmir, Jammu

BILAL HUSSAIN

The president’s of Kashmir chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jammu (CCIJ) on Sunday in a meeting resolved to work together on common issues confronting both regions of the state which are expected to enhance intra-trade ties between Kashmir and Jammu.
President KCCI, Nazir Ahmad Dar told Kashmir Times that the communication between two chambers would further be improved, which would increase trade between the business communities of two regions of the state.
The Jammu chamber and KCCI would both work on facilitating the trans-LoC (Line of Control) trade. Both of them stressed that there is dire need to put in place the proper infrastructure which includes banking and communication facilities, multi-entry permits for traders and inclusion of demand driven products.
“There is a need of proper banking system to convert the present barter trade system to the regular trade and in this regard, we would recommend that the JK Bank Limited be permitted to open a branch in Muzafarabad,” Dar said.
The second suggestion by the KCCI advocates allowing a trade delegation from Kashmir to visit to Pakistan administered Kashmir.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jammu (CCIJ), President, Y V Sharma said, “We would together impress upon the government to smoothen the LoC trade. We would work together on a long term plan to make it a success”.
The trader’s body also seeks exchange of trade delegations on regular basis to know each others requirements for trading. “Movement between the two parts of Kashmir for trade activity should be hassle free. The trade in the present form is not effective,” Dar said.
Besides, traders demand that the 21 items approved by the government for trading need should be enhanced from out of the lists initially sent to the government by the trade organizations of the two parts of Kashmir. “The banning of few items like Zeera, Aijwani and other items being aromatic medicinal and herbal in nature used as medicinal and food items be reviewed.”
Earlier, Salamabad Chakoti LoC Trade Union, a local trade body, has demanded immediate ban lift on certain commodity items. According to the trade union due to the ban on few commodities the traders are continuously suffering losses. “We want an immediate revocation of the ban,” they had said.
The ban is on the Ginger, Kismish, Pista Doodi, Dates, and layson. The union believes that the ban on the commodities, which are highly in the demand over here should be lifted to benefit traders. The list in no way corresponds to market realities, said a trader.
To mention, the much hyped trans-LoC (Line of Control) trade has not gone beyond Rs 45 crore annually.
Earlier KCCI had proposed with the JK Bank, only company from J&K listed on stock exchanges of India, to open a branch in AJK.
Mention to be made, JK Bank prior to partition in 1947 had two branches in AJK, one in Mirpur and other in Muzaffarabad. President KCCI is also of the opinion that it would be for the betterment of the trade if the J&K Bank is allowed to reopen its branches in other side of the LoC.