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India Post
December 28, 2012
www.indiapost.com
Kashmir festival being planned in US next year
J&K delegation explores ski resorts in Denver India Post News Service
WASHINGTON: A week-long Kashmir festival, the first of its kind, is being planned in the US next year. Its promoters feel it would not only promote tourism but also give boost to the States' economy and acquaint Americans with the rich cultural heritage of the Jammu and Kashmir. "This will be a festival wherein we would promote Kashmiri handicrafts and Kashmir as a (tourist) destination," Waseem Trumboo, Director Trumboo Industries Pvt Ltd, leader of the first ever business delegation from the State of Jammu and Kashmir to the United States told PTI in an interview. The delegation had several members of the J & K business community and was organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). To be handled by the CII, the week-long Kashmir festival would be held in either Washington DC or New York City possibly in the months of September-October next year, details of which would be out once the delegation is back home, Trumboo said. A large number of businesses from Jammu and Kashmir are expected to come to the US to attend the festival, which besides
showcasing the best of the State, would also help in developing business to business relationships. On return, Trumboo said, the delegation would submit a set of recommendations to the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar
This will be a festival wherein we would promote Kashmiri handicrafts and Kashmir as a (tourist) destination," Waseem Trumboo, Director Trumboo Industries Pvt Ltd, leader of the first ever business delegation from the State of Jammu and Kashmir to the US Abdullah, and would request him to come to the US next year to participate in what he termed as the unique Kashmir-festival. "It would help boost our local economy," he said. During its week-long trip to the
US the first ever business delegation from Jammu and Kashmir the CII delegation traveled to Washington, California and Colorado before concluding their trip in New York. "For us it was more about learning and see what opportunities are here for us," Trumboo said terming it as a great learning experience. "We got a feel of US economy," he added. The delegation besides meeting US government officials in Washington, wherein they insisted on lifting the American travel restrictions on J & K, they traveled to cities like Aspen in Colorado and had firsthand experience of ski-resorts, which they can explore and implement in their own state. Trumboo said some of the members of the business delegation expressed their interest in investing in the tourism sector of the United States. "So this is going to be a two-way process," he said. Following their meeting, the president of the prestigious New York University told them that he will send an official to Jammu and Kashmir early next year to explore the possibility of kind of educational tie up it can have there, he said. -PTI
JOYS OF WINTER: Tourists enjoying fresh snow fall at Manali in Himachal Pradesh
DENVER, Colorado: The CII business delegation from Jammu and Kashmir, led by Waseem Trumboo, Director Trumboo Industries Pvt Ltd, visited the popular ski destination of Aspen, Colo-
and Resorts Pvt. Ltd. Both sides expressed interest in encouraging collaboration, and also explored options for developing a sister-city type relationship between Kashmir and Aspen. Aspen currently has several sister-city relationships around the
rado on their third day in the world, including with the French ski area of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. United States. The former Mayor of Aspen The delegation plans to pursue (2001-2007), Helen Kalin this concept further in consultaKlanderud, welcomed the group tion with State and City officials to the city and commended CII for in Jammu and Kashmir, which will bringing the first ever delegation allow them to develop a friendly from the state of Jammu & Kash- and meaningful exchange of mir. "I hope their visit was as re- ideas, people, products and serwarding and informational to them vices in business, cultural, eduas it was to us‌ A warm welcome cational, youth, sports, municipal, awaits any future Indian visitors," professional and technical projects. she remarked. In Denver, the delegation met Looking at the well-developed tourism infrastructure in Aspen, with representatives of the ColoTrumboo said, "Aspen is a great rado Office of Economic Developtourist destination with outdoor ment and International Trade, and adventures from skiing to biking, quite similar to the Kashmir valley. Aspen has many amazing We have so much to mountains with a wide learn from this place in terms of developing the range of terrain to explore. necessary infrastrucTheir philosophy seems to ture for places like Gulmarg and Sonmarg." appeal to skiers of all skill The delegates also levels and ages," said Asif met representatives from the Aspen Cham- Iqbal Burza, Director, ber Resort Association Ahad Hotels (ACRA), who briefed them about the business climate of the city. Erik the World Trade Center Denver Klanderud, Director of Member to discuss the specifics of startServices, ACRA said the discus- ing a business in the state. Outlining the support channels sions with the delegation about business development in the ski available to new business venresort industry was a great learn- tures, the local officials offered ing opportunity for the Aspen their assistance to delegation Business Community and that he members looking to make investlooked forward to further engage- ments in Colorado. Each side was also very interment with CII. "Aspen has many amazing ested in learning about the other mountains with a wide range of region's commercial strengths to terrain to explore. Their philoso- identify areas of future collaboraphy seems to appeal to skiers of tion. While in the city, the delegaall skill levels and ages," said Asif tion went on a guided tour of the Iqbal Burza, Director, Ahad Hotels Colorado State Capitol.