Mumbai, Friday:
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday visited the IICT–NFDC Campus in Mumbai, where he interacted with professionals from the creative and film sectors and showcased Jammu and Kashmir’s growing potential as an emerging hub for film tourism and creative industries.
During the interaction, the Chief Minister highlighted J&K’s diverse landscapes, rich culture, and improving infrastructure as key strengths that make the region an attractive destination for filmmakers and creative enterprises. He said the renewed focus on peace and development in the Union Territory has opened new opportunities for collaboration with national institutions and industry stakeholders.
Omar Abdullah stressed the urgent need for structured skilling and upskilling of youth from Jammu and Kashmir in emerging domains such as Animation, Visual Effects (VFX), Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (XR). He noted that these sectors offer significant employment and entrepreneurship opportunities and can help position J&K as a contributor to India’s growing creative economy.
The Chief Minister also emphasised early collaboration with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) to develop national-level training and capacity-building programmes for young talent from J&K. He said such partnerships would help bridge skill gaps, provide industry exposure, and enable local youth to compete at the national and global levels.
Officials and industry experts present during the visit discussed possibilities for institutional tie-ups, curriculum development, and long-term engagement aimed at nurturing creative talent from the region. The visit is seen as part of the government’s broader effort to promote film tourism, creative industries, and youth empowerment in Jammu and Kashmir.
