The recently concluded G20 meetings in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, gave foreign dignitaries a chance to witness the drastic changes that the abrogation of Article 370 have brought to the region. According to Inside Over, an Italian-based news website, the full integration of J-K with the rest of the country appears to have paid positive dividends.
Tourism in Kashmir reached unprecedented heights in 2022, with 18.4 million visitors – the highest in seven decades – including 20,000 foreign tourists, indicating that normality has been restored. Any potential unrest and violence, which India’s neighboring countries Pakistan and China had feared, has been put to rest, with Michael Rubin, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), stating that he saw optimism and confidence in Kashmir on visiting both sides of the conflict.
The peace that has been achieved has opened up the possibility for development in J-K. Premium healthcare and technology industries, vocational training centres, sport and youth skilling facilities have all been set up with the helpful aid of smooth funding, and the people of Kashmir are responding positively to these efforts.
The Indian government has also sought to attract foreign investment to the region by regularly holding the Kashmir Conclave in the US to discuss how to best develop the area, and the Dubai-based Emaar Group has made an investment of USD 60 million into the local economy, expected to generate thousands of job opportunities.
Carmen Montana, Mayor of Milpitas City California has vowed to support the formation of partnerships with businesses in Jammu and Kashmir to further strengthen economic growth. With the G20 meetings in Jammu and Kashmir now concluded, it appears the region is on the cusp of a brighter future.
