Srinagar, June 29: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the Iran-Israel conflict has not ended despite a ceasefire understanding, expressing hope that both sides would utilise the two-week period constructively to secure a permanent end to hostilities.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a buyer-seller meet at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), the Chief Minister as per news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) said the two-day event has brought together artisans, self-help groups, agricultural producer organisations, start-ups, entrepreneurs, and international buyers on a single platform.
“There is a difference between an MoU and a final agreement. We hope both countries use this period wisely and the war comes to an end,” Omar said in response to a query on the West Asian situation and its likely impact on tourism and trade.
The Chief Minister noted that participants from Africa, Australia, North America, Europe, and Asia have attended the event, providing local producers with an opportunity to explore new international markets. When asked whether recent global conflicts had affected foreign participation, CM Omar said that while he could not compare expected attendance with actual turnout, the presence of representatives from around 15-16 countries and nearly 40 foreign buyers reflected encouraging international interest.
“We hope those who could not come because of the conflict will participate in future editions,” he added.
The Chief Minister further said the meet includes training and awareness sessions to help existing and aspiring exporters understand export procedures, government assistance, and subsidy schemes. “The idea is not only that existing exporters export more, but that people who have not exported until now also begin exporting,” CM Omar said.
On tourism in Kashmir, the Chief Minister urged against excessive focus on tourist numbers. “Don’t look at the numbers. People are coming, hotels are full, there are traffic jams and people are earning. Let them earn. If we keep putting pressure on numbers, we end up hurting ourselves,” he said, adding that the overall tourism scenario should be assessed only after the season ended. (KNS)
