Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 7 (ANI): Union Minister Piyush Goyal shared a glimpse of his visit to Jammu and Kashmir where he enjoyed a 'shikara' ride on Dal Lake and met various delegations ranging from business sectors and held discussions with them.

Union Minister Goyal met a delegation from Jammu-Kashmir Fruits and Vegetable Processing and Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA), Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry and MSME Development Forum, Jammu-Kashmir and held detailed discussions with them.

The Union Minister also addressed the FTII: Traders Conclave 2025 in Srinagar.

In a social media post, Goyal shared a glimpse of him enjoying the shikara ride and captioned, 'Heaven on Earth, our beautiful Jammu and Kashmir. Soaking in the breathtaking beauty of the majestic Dal Lake on a shikara. I went down memory lane today, feeling nostalgic.'

https://x.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1941837828717257133

Speaking to ANI, the Union Minister said, 'Even my Shikara's name is Peace of Heaven. The peace I experience when I come to Dal Lake takes me back to my school days. I haven't forgotten my childhood memories. God has given a heaven to the country.'

Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir took a hit after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed.

In another social media post, he wrote, 'On the occasion of Syama Prasad Mookerjee's birth anniversary, I addressed the FTII: Traders Conclave 2025 in Srinagar and honoured entrepreneurs with the 'Business Jewel Award'.'

The Union Minister noted that Jammu-Kashmir is 'rapidly' progressing towards a developed India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

'Under the leadership of Prime Minister @NarendraModi, Jammu-Kashmir is rapidly progressing towards a developed India. The increase in tourist numbers, world-class infrastructure, business innovation, and cultural richness are proof of this. The trading community is the backbone of 'Self-Reliant India'. The government is not only encouraging them through initiatives like PM Vishwakarma, ODOP, GeM, and ONDC but is also making business simpler, more inclusive, and globally competitive by promoting Vocal for Local,' the social media post reads.

Heaven%20on%20Earth,%20our%20beautiful%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir.%20Soaking%20in%20the%20breathtaking%20beauty%20of%20the%20majestic%20Dal%20Lake%20on%20a%20shikara.%20I%20went%20down%20memory%20lane%20today,%20feeling%20nostalgic.'%20%20%20https:/x.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1941837828717257133%20%20Speaking%20to%20ANI,%20the%20Union%20Minister%20said,%20'Even%20my%20Shikara's%20name%20is%20Peace%20of%20Heaven.%20The%20peace%20I%20experience%20when%20I%20come%20to%20Dal%20Lake%20takes%20me%20back%20to%20my%20school%20days.%20I%20haven't%20forgotten%20my%20childhood%20memories.%20God%20has%20given%20a%20heaven%20to%20the%20country.'%20%20%20%20Tourism%20in%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir%20took%20a%20hit%20after%20the%20April%2022%20Pahalgam%20terror%20attack%20in%20which%2026%20people%20were%20killed.%20%20%20In%20another%20social%20media%20post,%20he%20wrote,%20'On%20the%20occasion%20of%20Syama%20Prasad%20Mookerjee's%20birth%20anniversary,%20I%20addressed%20the%20FTII:%20Traders%20Conclave%202025%20in%20Srinagar%20and%20honored%20entrepreneurs%20with%20the%20'Business%20Jewel%20Award'.'%20%20%20The%20Union%20Minister%20noted%20that%20Jammu-Kashmir%20is%20'rapidly'%20progressing%20towards%20a%20developed%20India%20under%20the%20leadership%20of%20Prime%20Minister%20Narendra%20Modi.%20%20%20'Under%20the%20leadership%20of%20Prime%20Minister%20@NarendraModi,%20Jammu-Kashmir%20is%20rapidly%20progressing%20towards%20a%20developed%20India.%20The%20increase%20in%20tourist%20numbers,%20world-class%20infrastructure,%20business%20innovation,%20and%20cultural%20richness%20are%20proof%20of%20this.%20The%20trading%20community%20is%20the%20backbone%20of%20'Self-Reliant%20India'.%20The%20government%20is%20not%20only%20encouraging%20them%20through%20initiatives%20like%20PM%20Vishwakarma,%20ODOP,%20GeM,%20and%20ONDC%20but%20is%20also%20making%20business%20simpler,%20more%20inclusive,%20and%20globally%20competitive%20by%20promoting%20Vocal%20for%20Local,'%20the%20social%20media%20post%20reads.%20%20%20https:/x.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1941798448895824101%20%20The%20Union%20Minister%20also%20met%20a%20delegation%20from%20the%20Kashmir%20Chamber%20of%20Commerce%20and%20Industry%20in%20Srinagar%20and%20held%20meaningful%20discussions%20on%20empowering%20local%20industries,%20accelerating%20economic%20development,%20and%20creating%20a%20favorable%20environment%20for%20business.%20%20%20https:/x.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1941776512455221440%20%20He%20held%20a%20detailed%20discussion%20with%20the%20MSME%20Development%20Forum,%20Jammu-Kashmir,%20regarding%20various%20suggestions%20to%20promote%20local%20enterprises.%20During%20this%20meeting,%20measures%20to%20enhance%20the%20competitiveness%20of%20MSMEs,%20improve%20Ease%20of%20Doing%20Business,%20and%20connect%20them%20to%20the%20national%20supply%20chain%20were%20discussed.%20%20%20https:/x.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1941775755848872429%20%20During%20his%20visit,%20Union%20Minister%20Goyal%20promised%20to%20recommend%20a%20reduction%20in%20the%20Goods%20and%20Services%20Tax%20imposed%20on%20handicrafts%20and%20handloom%20products%20to%20help%20promote%20the%20sector%20in%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir.%20%20%20%20Addressing%20the%20FTII:%20Traders%20Conclave%20-%202025%20in%20Srinagar,%20the%20Union%20Minister%20said,%20'The%20issue%20of%20GST%20levied%20on%20handicrafts%20and%20handlooms%20was%20brought%20to%20my%20attention%20by%20two%20or%20three%20system%20delegations.%20I%20have%20suggested%20that%20they%20submit%20an%20application%20regarding%20this%20matter%20to%20the%20Finance%20Ministry%20as%20well%20as%20to%20me%20so%20that%20we%20can%20explore%20what%20relief%20can%20be%20provided.%20We%20will%20try%20to%20reduce%20the%20GST%20rate%20from%2012%20per%20cent%20to%205%20per%20cent%20on%20these%20items,%20which%20would%20help%20promote%20the%20handloom%20and%20handicraft%20sectors%20--%20especially%20in%20Jammu%20%20Kashmir.%20We%20will%20make%20efforts%20to%20find%20a%20way%20forward%20in%20this%20regard.'%20%20%20'One%20of%20the%20topics%20raised%20was%20the%20need%20for%20packaging%20units%20where%20new%20designs%20and%20technologies%20could%20be%20introduced%20to%20better%20promote%20local%20products%20such%20as%20handicrafts,%20horticulture%20items,%20pashmina%20shawls,%20and%20handlooms,'%20Goyal%20said.%20%20%20The%20Union%20Minister%20said%20that%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir%20will%20soon%20get%20a%20Centre%20of%20Excellence%20for%20Packaging%20and%20Design.%20%20%20'I%20have%20directed%20officials%20to%20explore%20possibilities%20in%20collaboration%20with%20the%20Indian%20Institute%20of%20Packaging%20to%20initiate%20a%20project%20focused%20on%20quality%20packaging%20and%20design.%20They%20have%20been%20requested%20to%20identify%20a%20suitable%20location%20where%20this%20initiative%20can%20be%20launched%20at%20the%20earliest,'%20he%20said.%20%20%20Further,%20the%20Union%20Minster%20Goyal%20said%20that%20representatives%20have%20discussed%20setting%20up%20a%20Centre%20of%20Excellence%20(CoE)%20focused%20on%20storage%20technology,%20cold%20chain%20infrastructure,%20and%20encouraging%20startups%20and%20new%20talent.%20%20%20'The%20aim%20is%20to%20support%20those%20shifting%20from%20traditional%20trades%20to%20entrepreneurship,%20offering%20assistance%20through%20innovation%20and%20research.%20The%20Centre%20of%20Excellence%20would%20work%20on%20developing%20new%20products,%20technologies,%20and%20even%20new%20seed%20or%20fruit%20varieties.%20I%20will%20also%20engage%20with%20the%20Ministry%20of%20Agriculture%20to%20explore%20how%20they%20can%20contribute%20by%20enhancing%20productivity%20and%20supporting%20these%20efforts,'%20Goyal%20assured%20the%20traders%20of%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir.%20%20Goyal%20also%20assured%20that%20he%20will%20discuss%20with%20the%20NTPC%20and%20Solar%20Energy%20Corporation%20to%20establish%20a%20solar%20lighting%20or%20power%20generation%20facility%20in%20the%20area%20to%20help%20producers%20to%20export%20their%20products%20as%20a%20green%20product%20to%20get%20a%20greater%20prices.%20%20Goyal%20also%20assured%20that%20he%20would%20hold%20discussions%20with%20Public%20Sector%20energy%20unit%20NTPC%20and%20the%20Solar%20Energy%20Corporation%20to%20explore%20setting%20up%20a%20solar%20lighting%20or%20power%20generation%20facility%20in%20the%20region.%20The%20initiative%20aims%20to%20support%20local%20producers%20in%20exporting%20their%20goods%20as%20green%20products,%20thereby%20enabling%20them%20to%20fetch%20better%20prices%20in%20international%20markets.' target='_blank'>https://x.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1941798448895824101