LASSIPORA, OCT 15: Reaffirming its commitment to strengthening Jammu and Kashmir’s industrial and horticulture ecosystem, Jammu & Kashmir Bank organised a customer interaction-cum-felicitation meet at the Industrial Growth Centre (IGC), Lassipora, bringing together more than 50 representatives of controlled-atmosphere (CA) storage facilities, fruit trade and other industrial enterprises to discuss credit requirements, operational challenges and opportunities for sustainable growth.
Held under the theme “Our Customer—Our Privilege,” the interaction provided a platform for industry representatives to directly engage with the Bank’s senior leadership on issues concerning credit disbursement, working capital, collateral requirements and financing needs across the horticulture value chain.
The meeting was chaired by the Bank’s Chief General Manager (Credit), Ashutosh Sareen, in the presence of General Manager and Divisional Head (Kashmir) Arshad Qadri; General Manager (CIBF) Suresh Kumar Chowdhary; Zonal Head (Srinagar) Sheikh Mohammad Muzaffar; Zonal Head (Pulwama) Masood Ahmad Lankar; DGM and Head, M&LC (Kashmir), Nuzhat Parveen; cluster heads and other senior officials.
The participating industry representatives were led by Industrial Estate Lassipora President Mukhtar Ahmad Khan, Jammu Kashmir Fruits and Vegetables Processing and Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA) President Bashir Ahmad Naik, and Fruit Mandi Pulwama President Javad Ahmad.
Addressing the gathering, CGM (Credit) Ashutosh Sareen reaffirmed the Bank’s long-term commitment to agriculture, horticulture and industrial development, emphasising that support for businesses at Lassipora also contributes to strengthening the apple value chain, supporting growers and sustaining employment.
He said the trust placed by customers in J&K Bank carried a responsibility to provide responsive banking services and support viable enterprises in meeting their financial requirements.
Sareen stressed that meaningful customer engagement must translate into practical improvements, assuring participants that the concerns and suggestions raised during the interaction would be examined within the Bank’s established guidelines and applicable regulatory framework.
He also called for constructive engagement between the Bank and the industrial community to address emerging financial requirements and facilitate sustainable business operations.
In his address, Industrial Estate Lassipora President Mukhtar Ahmad Khan expressed gratitude to the Bank’s leadership for its continued support to apple production, cold storage and processing activities.
Highlighting the industrial estate’s economic significance, Khan said Lassipora houses approximately 950 industrial units employing nearly 20,000 people, making it an important centre of industrial activity and employment generation in the region.
Describing J&K Bank as a longstanding financial partner of the business community, he drew attention to the challenges confronting industrial enterprises, including rising input costs, increasing working capital requirements, delays in credit disbursement and concerns relating to collateral-free credit guarantee schemes.
He stressed that timely and adequate financial assistance was essential for maintaining operational continuity, meeting seasonal business requirements and expanding industrial capacity.
JKPICCA President Bashir Ahmad Naik called for a dedicated mechanism through which industry associations could periodically engage with the Bank’s concerned authorities to discuss sector-specific banking issues and work towards practical solutions.
The participants highlighted the importance of sustained institutional dialogue in addressing the evolving financial needs of industrial units, particularly those linked to horticulture, fruit preservation and processing.
In his welcome address, General Manager and Divisional Head (Kashmir) Arshad Qadri reiterated the Bank’s commitment to empowering growers, traders and businesses associated with horticulture and allied sectors.
He underlined the need to bridge the gap between apple production and storage capacity, particularly to improve access to post-harvest infrastructure for small and marginal farmers, who constitute a substantial section of the Valley’s grower community.
Highlighting the Bank’s role in developing cold-chain infrastructure, Qadri stated that J&K Bank has financed more than 80 per cent of the controlled-atmosphere storage facilities in the Valley, with an exposure of approximately ₹2,000 crore to the segment.
The figures underline the Bank’s significant involvement in financing infrastructure that enables the preservation of horticultural produce, supports organised fruit marketing and helps strengthen the region’s post-harvest management capabilities.
He emphasised that continued cooperation between financial institutions and industry stakeholders was essential to improving storage capacity, supporting growers and enhancing the overall competitiveness of Kashmir’s horticulture sector.
General Manager (CIBF) Suresh Kumar Chowdhary responded in detail to the issues raised by participating customers, acknowledging the importance of timely credit availability and adequate working capital for the smooth functioning of industrial and horticulture-linked businesses.
He said the Bank would endeavour to address customers’ concerns through practical solutions and clear guidance while ensuring compliance with its lending policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
The deliberations were conducted in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, with the agenda circulated in advance enabling participants to present their concerns and suggestions directly to the Bank’s senior management.
The Bank’s leadership listened to the issues raised and responded to the queries during the interaction. Officials reiterated their commitment to examining the representations and considering feasible measures within the prescribed banking framework.
The participating customers were also felicitated by the Bank’s senior leadership in recognition of their association and engagement with the institution.
The interaction at Lassipora highlighted the importance of stronger coordination between the banking sector and industrial stakeholders in addressing financing challenges, supporting business expansion and strengthening the infrastructure underpinning Kashmir’s horticulture economy.
With cold storage, fruit processing and allied industries playing a vital role in preserving agricultural produce and generating employment, access to timely institutional finance remains an important factor in sustaining operations and encouraging investment.
J&K Bank reaffirmed its commitment to customer-centric banking, continued support for viable industrial enterprises and constructive engagement with the business community to facilitate growth across the horticulture, fruit processing and allied sectors.
