Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today stated that the issue of unemployment can be tackled by establishing a vibrant start-up culture and a strong entrepreneurship ecosystem across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Minister made these remarks while delivering the keynote address at the Annual Start-up Mela of the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) at Bari Brahmana here today.
Addressing a large gathering of start-up entrepreneurs and industrialists, the Chief Minister said that unemployment is a very challenging issue in J&K and that government jobs are no substitute for addressing unemployment. “A vibrant private sector, hand-holding of existing industrial units, and encouraging start-up entrepreneurs will tackle this issue to a large extent,” CM Omar Abdullah stated.
Highlighting the evolving entrepreneurial landscape, Omar Abdullah emphasized that the youth of J&K are no longer limited to traditional employment avenues and are increasingly embracing innovation-driven enterprises across sectors such as agriculture, technology, handicrafts, tourism, renewable energy, and services.
“No idea is a bad idea,” Omar Abdullah said, “Nobody would have ever thought that Zomato, Blinkit, Uber or Swiggy would become such big enterprises. It was an idea that has been successfully converted into such big companies.”
Highlighting the government’s commitment to nurturing start-up culture in J&K, the Chief Minister said that the role of identifying start-ups lies with JKEDI, universities, and educational institutions. “JKEDI was established with the objective of nurturing the entrepreneurship and start-up ecosystem across Jammu and Kashmir, and the government will empower JKEDI for hand-holding of budding entrepreneurs as well as start-up founders,” Omar Abdullah asserted.
He added that JKEDI has a major role under the Start-up Policy of J&K, empowering JKEDI is the government’s prime responsibility, and the Seed Capital Fund of JKEDI will also be increased.
“Everyone may have an idea to establish an enterprise, but to convert it into reality, JKEDI was established to provide all kinds of support to the ideations of budding entrepreneurs,” he said.
The Chief Minister called upon the JKEDI to document the success stories of start-up founders and accomplished entrepreneurs and to conduct Start-up Melas in all districts of J&K, making them role models for the youth and younger generation.
Omar Abdullah further highlighted that the government is focused on creating a supportive environment through policy reforms, access to finance, mentorship, incubation facilities, and market linkages for all budding entrepreneurs and start-up founders.
“The energy and creativity on display at this Start-up Mela clearly demonstrate that Jammu and Kashmir is ready to emerge as a strong start-up destination. Our responsibility is to ensure that talented young people receive the right support at the right time so that their ideas can grow into sustainable enterprises,” the Chief Minister stated.
Addressing the gathering, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Nasir Aslam Wani, said that during the time of Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, an industrial policy was framed which focused on self-employment for the coming generations. He added that the innovations and new types of business enterprises being established in J&K give positive hope for the future.
The Advisor said that there is a need to create employment avenues for youth and that start-up founders and enterprises are the main hope. Lauding JKEDI for organizing the grand Start-up Mela, he added that JKEDI has made good progress in establishing start-up culture in J&K and that the government will further empower JKEDI. He also said that CM Omar Abdullah is taking keen interest in the empowerment and recognition of start-up founders.
MLA Vijaypur, Chander Prakash Ganga, also spoke on the occasion.
In his welcome address, Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Vikramjit Singh spoke at length about the growing start-up ecosystem in J&K and the role played by JKEDI under the Start-up Policy of the government.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also released a JKEDI booklet titled “Startup Policy Implementation and Outcomes.”
The Chief Minister also distributed capital grants of Rs. 50 lakh each for incubators of various universities and higher educational institutions, including Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University Technology Business Incubation Centre; Institute Incubation & Innovation Council (I3C), IIT Jammu; Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (CIED), Islamic University of Science & Technology (IUST), Awantipora; and SKUAST-K Innovation, Incubation & Entrepreneurship Centre (SKIIE Centre), with the first instalment of Rs. 15 lakh released on the spot.
He also felicitated J&K Annual Start-up Awardees in different categories such as Start-up of the Year, Woman Start-up of the Year, Emerging Start-up of the Year, Social Start-up of the Year, and Top Incubation Centre of the Year, with a total prize amount of Rs. 3.40 lakh.
The Chief Minister further distributed Seed Fund cheques amounting to Rs. 3.60 crore among 18 start-ups facilitated by JKEDI, with the first instalment of Rs. 5 lakh released on the spot.
Earlier, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the exhibition stalls set up by start-ups and entrepreneurs showcasing innovative products, business models, and solutions developed under various JKEDI programmes. He interacted with participants, listened to their experiences, and encouraged them to think big while remaining rooted in local strengths and resources.
Interacting with young entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and students, the Chief Minister lauded JKEDI for its sustained efforts in nurturing entrepreneurial talent and creating platforms that connect ideas with opportunities. He described start-ups as a powerful engine of economic growth, employment generation, and social transformation, particularly for a region with immense untapped potential like Jammu and Kashmir.
Deputy Commissioner Samba Ayushi Sudan; Director JKEDI Khalid Jehangir; President, Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Arun Gupta; senior officers of the J&K Government; representatives of various industrial associations of Bari Brahmana Industrial Estate; senior officers of JKEDI; start-up founders; entrepreneurs; and a large number of students were also present on the occasion.