Steelbird Hi-tech India, Asia’s largest helmet manufacturer, is eyeing manufacturing operations in Jammu & Kashmir. The company says it will help the Valley to kick-start a new industrial revolution and generate employment for citizens.

Welcoming the move of the government, Subhash Kapur, chairman, Steelbird Helmets, said, “It is a much-awaited move by prime minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah to overrule Article 370. This move ensures that the valley enters the Indian mainstream and becomes a part of our nation’s collective growth.”

The company says until now, most of the manufacturing activity in the state had remained restricted to the state's inherent capacities in agriculture and handicrafts. “We think it will kick-start (growth) with companies tying up with established local players to build the ecosystem. This is how most cities and states grow and we see it as a great opportunity for localities first. We plan to come up with the manufacturing facility in accordance to the upcoming investor summit in October. We hope the decisions will allow the businesses to operate freely under the same rules in the valley,” said Rajeev Kapur, MD, Steelbird Helmets

Rajeev Kapur added, “The revoking of Article 370 will help the J&K economy for sure. The stagnation that the state economy has suffered for decades will be reversed. Also, it is a boon for students as well across India who wish to seek employment in the valley and through our plant we will be generating employment as well.”

The helmet manufacturer has already invested Rs 150 crore for expansion of manufacturing plants in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh and plans to increase production capacity to 44,500 helmets a day and employ  3,000 personnel. Steelbird says it aims to set up a similar plant and extend employment opportunities to about 1,000 people in Jammu & Kashmir.