FICCI- CCI organised Competition Law Workshop in Srinagar
Supporting Fair and Competitive Markets for Accelerating Business Expansion and Investment in J&K
17/05/2026
Srinagar, May 17 (KIP)- FICCI under aegis of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) organised the Regional Workshop on Competition Law in Srinagar on Friday. This is the first such engagement with stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir since competition law was extended to the territory.
Ms Ravneet Kaur, Chairperson, CCI, delivering the keynote address, underlined that fair and competitive markets are the bedrock of a market economy and ensure that the market rewards innovation and merit rather than exclusionary or exploitative conduct. Referring to the significant expansion in sectors like tourism, agriculture and horticulture in Jammu and Kashmir, Ms Kaur emphasised, “Fair and competitive markets will ensure that this potential translates into real opportunity — and that Jammu and Kashmir's small enterprises and startups are equipped to claim their share of it”.
The Chairperson further pointed out that the region contributes less than one percent to India's GDP at present, and the headroom for growth is enormous. She assured that the Commission exists as a safeguard ensuring that even MSMEs and start-ups can compete freely and fairly — noting that in nearly seventeen years of existence, CCI has not blocked a single merger, reflecting its commitment to enabling growth rather than creating adversarial hurdles for businesses.
Ms Sweta Kakkad, Member, CCI, while addressing the session on the emerging competition concerns in a world of e-commerce, data and algorithms explained that the digital economy rewards scale in ways that traditional markets do not — and that makes early and informed competition oversight more important than ever. India's evolving competition framework is designed to ensure that the data flywheel drives innovation and inclusion, not just concentration. “The data flywheel that powers modern digital platforms — more users, more data, better algorithms, even more users — is one of the most powerful self-reinforcing cycles in any economy. Understanding how this shapes competition is central to ensuring that India's digital growth story remains inclusive and not just concentrated at the top,” she added.
Mr Deepak Anurag, Member, CCI, addressed on Anti-Competitive Agreements such as Cartels and Bid Rigging and Abuse of Dominance. He explained that cartel behaviour does not always look like a boardroom conspiracy — it can be as simple as competitors dividing geographies, fixing prices or colluding to predetermine a tender winner. “As Jammu and Kashmir's public procurement expands with the region's growth, recognising and reporting these red flags is what keeps competition working in everyone's favour", he advocated. Mr Anurag further explained that India's ambition to become a developed economy rests on markets that are both competitive and fair. Dominance earned through merit is entirely legitimate — but when that position is used to overcharge consumers or foreclose competition, it undermines the very dynamism that drove the success in the first place.
Mr Inderpal Singh Bindra, Secretary, CCI, highlighted that startups and MSMEs have emerged as a critical engine of growth, employment generation and regional development, and that many of today's most successful enterprises were once small entrants, challenging established market structures through innovation and efficiency — making fair and open competition the single most important enabler of the next generation of enterprise.
Mr Anant Swarup, Secretary General, FICCI said that for Jammu and Kashmir's growing base of startups and small enterprises, the value of a fair competition framework lies in what it makes possible — markets where entry is not blocked, pricing is not manipulated and success is determined by the quality of what you bring to the table. “A fair competition framework is one of the most powerful enablers for India's startups and MSMEs — it keeps markets open, entry barriers low and ensures that innovative, ambitious enterprises have every opportunity to compete and grow on their own terms”, Mr Swarup said while complementing CCI for its continued engagement with industry.
Mr Mushtaq Ahmed Burza, Chairman, FICCI J&K Council, applauded CCI for its continued efforts in promoting awareness and strengthening the culture of fair competition across the country and choosing Srinagar for their regional workshop. Noting that a fair and predictable regulatory environment strengthens ease of doing business, promotes entrepreneurship, protects smaller enterprises, and enhances long-term economic resilience. “Fair markets assume greater significance for emerging regions like Jammu & Kashmir, where tourism, hospitality, handicrafts, agriculture, startups, infrastructure, and technology sectors are witnessing new opportunities for growth and investment,” he added.
The Workshop witnessed large participation of businesses from Jammu and Srinagar, members of the legal and professional fraternity and representatives from academia and media to gain understanding of how competition law interfaces directly with consumer choice, platform economics and fair market access. The panel discussions were ably guided by representative of the leading law firms of the country (Khaitan & Co., Chandhiok and Mahajan, AZB and Partners and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas); regional chapters of ICAI, ICSI and ICMAI as well as Shahr-e-Khas Traders and Manufacturers Coordination Committee and Federation.
The Workshop, through focussed sessions, discussed ‘Enforcement of Competition Law’, ‘Digital Markets and the Opportunities they offer’ and how ‘Competition Law ensures a Level Playing Field in Evolving Markets for MSMEs and Start-ups’.