As part of its endeavour to ensure overall development of the state and strengthen the industrial sector, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir intends to create an investor-friendly atmosphere.

During a recent meeting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia that his government would undertake steps in this regard.

Abdullah said his government would maintain fiscal discipline to make development sustainable.

He also informed Dr. Ahluwalia that horticulture and tourism would be the focal points of development. Social services and road development would also be given due priority in the plan outlay, he added.

Apprising the Planning Commission about the state's development strategy, Abdullah said fiscal discipline would be maintained to ensure consistent development.

Dr. Ahluwalia appreciated the State Government’s plan to develop 690 megawatt of power through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

“The balance hydropower generation potential also needs to be similarly exploited, as it holds the key to the state’s economic growth and for generating resources to fund its development schemes. Wind farm based capacity should be expanded and non-conventional systems based on solar and bio-mass also need to be encouraged,” Dr. Ahluwalia said.

On infrastructure development, Dr. Ahluwalia and other members of the commission said incentives in the form of policies should be offered to make the private sector an active partner in the development of both social and physical infrastructure.

Ahluwalia said the state government should work out an action plan for the rapid development of the state during 12th Plan period, which would ensure that the fruits of development reach the people equally.

“More avenues of revenue generation should be explored and the state has abundant natural resources to create more streams of revenue generation,” he added.