The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in the presence of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha and LuLu group Chairman, Yusuff Ali MA is to set up a food processing & logistics hub in Srinagar, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UAE-based LuLu Group to set up a food processing and logistics hub in Srinagar.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha and LuLu Group Chairman, Yusuff Ali MA.
LG Manoj Sinha also inaugurated Jammu and Kashmir promotion week at the LuLu Hypermarket in Dubai.
Speaking at the occasion, Lt Governor said, “Relations between India and UAE are long-standing and deep rooted. People-to-people contact and trade have seen momentum in the recent years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
“The world-famous GI-tagged saffron has been launched at LuLu Hypermarket, which I see as a major step towards boosting Jammu Kashmir and Dubai partnership. LuLu group is already importing apples from Jammu and Kashmir. And with saffron, we are adding Kashmir’s finest spice to the basket. I am certain that this new beginning will take our trade to unprecedented levels,” Sinha added.
He said the MoU with LuLu Group will expand the collaboration between Jammu and Kashmir and Dubai.
“Trade between Jammu and Kashmir and Dubai has remained steady, despite COVID-19 challenges and it reflects the resilience of our deep economic linkages. The MoU will further expand Jammu Kashmir-Dubai collaboration and Jammu Kashmir-LuLu Group partnership,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Worth mentioning, Jammu and Kashmir rank first in the production of saffron, apple, walnut, and almond in India. The MoU with the LuLu group will help the union territory to reach out to shoppers at 190 LuLu Hypermarkets across the GCC and Egypt.
The J&K week started on 3rd January in Indian India Pavilion at Expo 202 Dubai and will conclude on 13th January.
As part of the week, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha along with other government officials from the UT will hold various G2B, B2G and G2G meetings and invite global investors to invest across key sectors like tourism, handloom & handicraft, food processing among others.
The J&K delegation led by the LG will participate in various bilateral meetings during the week. A special speech on, ‘Development after UT’ will be hosted on 6th January where the Sinha will talk about the initiatives taken by the Government of J&K in ensuring growth across different sectors.
Given the prominence of J&K as a tourist destination, the UT will also participate in a joint session with Ministry of Tourism, Government on India on 12th January.
The vision of the UT of J&K is to promote balanced growth of industry and commerce through sustainable utilization of natural resources and development of human skills.
With this vision, the Government of J&K is working towards creating an enabling and entrepreneurial friendly environment which will facilitate the sustainable growth and development of industrial enterprises including Cottage and Village industries.
The UT is aiming to encourage new investment in industries and facilitate new entrepreneurs. With the focus on growth in these areas, the UT is also working towards encouraging and creating conditions that will enable the promotion of human resource skills, creation of new employment opportunities and development of new designs in the Handloom and Handicrafts sector.
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In October last year, Jammu and Kashmir administration had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dubai government for real estate development, industrial parks, IT towers, multipurpose towers, logistics, medical colleges, super specialty hospitals and more.
The MoU will see discussions take place on a multi-modal logistics park and hub in Jammu, comprising warehouses and specialised storage solutions that will also encourage inter-modal transfer of containers, bulk and break-bulk cargo.
In December, the J&K government had signed a deal with University College Birmingham (UCB) at India Global Forum, Dubai to explore potential progression opportunities through institutional partnership with vocational colleges and universities in the valley.
As per an official release, for the first time, UCB has decided to set up an office in Jammu and Kashmir to tie up with local educational institutions, facilitate academic exchange programmes and enable students to secure admissions at reduced fees.
In a significant step towards developing the education sector in Jammu and Kashmir through this MoU, the administration aims to achieve skill development or upskilling of students in a variety of different subject areas and levels besides exploring opportunities for collaboration in teaching and research fields.
The objective of the MoU is to provide a framework within which the parties will seek to develop a formal relationship in exchange for undergraduate/graduate students, technical programs, academic mobility, teaching and research programs. The document would be valid for a period of three years. (with inputs from ANI)