In a major advance towards enhancing cross-Line of Control (LoC) cooperation in Jammu and Kashmir, 10 major business organisations – for the first time including traders' associations from both sides – have reinvigorated the Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry founded in 2008.
After three days of dialogue in Istanbul, the group – facilitated by Conciliation Resources, with local partners Centre for Peace, Development & Reforms (Mirpur/Islamabad) and Indus Research Foundation (Jammu) – signed the first written agreement on non-governmental cooperation.
This adds to confidence-building measures that have been in place since the opening of limited cross-LoC trade in 2008.
You can read more about cross-border co-operation in our 2010 report Jammu and Kashmir: Trade across the Line of Control and accompanying Policy brief