Kashmir’s private sector blooms in Rengreth I E

M Hyderi

(from greaterkashmir.com)

Srinagar, Nov 3: Salary as high as Rs 40 thousand/month. Work environment: choice of three shifts a day. Demand exceeding production. Broadband internet 24*7 connectivity. Well this is not about the corporate world outside state, but some of the attractions at industrial estate Rangreth here. For those who think industrialization does not bloom in Kashmir, this estate can change their outlook. A recent visit to this estate served an eye-opener to the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who could not help but express surprise over the state-of-the-art machinery and work culture in the estate. From a small enterprise making detergent to a potential IT company with clients like Microsoft, Wipro and CISCO, the State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) developed estate has a glory to reveal. Housing 189 big and small industrial units with an overall investment of Rs 185 crores the estate has given employment to over three thousand Kashmiris. And in the coming months there will be hundreds of new jobs opportunities.

Technology first

Jehangir Raina, a post-graduate from England who worked abroad always desired to return to his homeland Kashmir and start his own Market Research based IT company.

Some four years ago he started the venture at the estate. He didn’t have to waste time in constructing a building. He got built-in accommodation from SIDCO responsible for the promotion and development of the industrial sector. Internet connectivity was provided by earth-station of the Software Technology Park, adjacent to his unit. Jehangir is contented with his company that provides job to over a dozen odd professionals from the field of IT and management. His company, I-Locus prepares market research documents on global telecom business. “Microsoft and IBM are some household names, there are other giants too in our client list including Alkatel,” he said. “There were some constraints and challenges but we overcame it… It’s feasible to run business in Kashmir, but you need to have patience,” Raina opines adding that he intends to employ another 30 employees by early next year.

Besides I-locus, there is BQE, a US based software development-company run by Kashmiri entrepreneurs. Dozens of professionals working at this offshore office earn handsome bucks ranging between Rs 8 to 40 thousand per month. The estate even houses a government recognized computer institute, DOEACC. Thousands of IT professionals in the streams of Hardware, Software and Networking have qualified in skilled programs. Looking at the growing demand of professionals in the BPO sector, the center Director AH Moon also started special programs in voice and accent training. Given the expanding market of mobile telephony, the center has also launched a program in mobile repairs. Some of the pass-outs have started their own ventures.

Will and the way

Even though the SIDCO provided him land to start a detergent manufacture plant, for Gulzar Ahmed a chemical engineer, it took six years to start the unit as financial problems hindered the project. After years of dilly-dallying, financial agency finally denied him the assistance.

Finding no other option, Zargar sold his ancestral house and borrowed some money from friends, the 30-year-old engineer recollects. With tremendous experience that he has gained by working in outside state companies, he saved some investment by designing the machinery locally. “Nearly Rs two lakh,” he adds.Since the start of production of Dr Plus in March this year, the budding entrepreneur has reached the turnover of nearly 2 lakh rupees per month.

“Demand for the detergent is more than production,” Zargar hails adding that he intends to expand business and start a phenyl unit. But life was not the same for Zargar who presently gives employment to a dozen odd locals. “My parents were annoyed and said I had done a blunder by leaving my job…But instead of begging outside Kashmir I wanted to work in my homeland and generate employment for others also,” he says. Zargar doesn’t run for subsidies either. “I can earn more at the factory for the time I’ll waste seeking subsidies,” he opines.

Electrifying deeds

When ALBA Power started the unit for repairs of small transformers at the Rangreth estate in 90s, its Director Nissar Ahmed Baba couldn’t even dream that today ALBA would be among the top companies in northern India –manufacturing heavy transformers. Company’s latest, a 10 thousand KVA transformer is out for “type testing” in Bhopal. ALBA says they are first to manufacture such a heavy transformer in the state.Baba rejects the common notion among people that “industrialization in Kashmir is a fiasco.” Of nearly 50 workers employed at his unit, eight are women. Baba finds them better professionals than their male counterparts. ALBA is coming up with a new unit to manufacture whopping 20,000 KVA transformer from next year.

Interestingly, till 10-years ago only the MNCs would manufacture such heavy-duty lot, which presently this local unit manufactures. Last year the company’s turnover was Rs 7 crore while they eye on 10 crore this year.

Besides, the estate houses internationally acclaimed Kohinoor International Agro Products which has state-of the art apple processing plant. The company has gained market in countries like Germany, Canada and US. Constructed at the cost of Rs 45 crore, Kohinoor’s export oriented unit started its operation in 1999. The plant processes nearly 400 tons of apples per day. The ISO 9001 and HACCP certified plant has given employment to dozens of locals.

The change

A 10-kilometer smooth drive on the newly macadamized road leading to the estate would hardly make one believe that a few months back the road connectivity was a big problem.

Getting raw material and supplying products was a big problem as industrialists would find it difficult to get truckers. There was no street lighting in the 1160 kanal estate and potable water was a scarce commodity. Even the entrance to the estate premises was troublesome as the main gate had been closed several years ago. A small alternate entrance was the only access point making the movement of trucks and other heavy vehicles difficult.

But now there is complete change for which entrepreneurs hail the SIDCO. Sayed Mumtaz, an industrialist said: “this estate was a forbidden land, but now there’s a sea change.” Managing Director SIDCO Irfan Yasin says there used to be complaints earlier but after the basic infrastructure has been raised in the estate, there are no complaints.

In the past outside state private players especially the BPO companies had declined to invest in the estate due to poor infrastructure. “Now that infrastructure has been upgraded we can attract them,” Yasin said. On request from some entrepreneurs, the MD has taken up meetings with financing agencies to help the entrepreneurs.

Future plans

Well here is some good news for export-oriented units: SIDCO is coming up with Inland Container Depot (ICD) at a cost of Rs 14 crore. The ICD would facilitate hassle-free export of products of the Valley based units. “The ICD will have facilities like custom clearance, dumping yards and customized transportation and rail link,” the MD SIDCO told Greater Kashmir. For the dozen odd non-operational units or the ones yet to start, the SIDCO has decided to take strict action. “They have been asked to make the units operational or leave the space for others,” SIDCO officials said.

Copyright and courtesy of Greater Kashmir. com [link]
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