Jammu and Kashmir industries minister S S Slathia today said the atmosphere in the state was congenial for making investments in different sectors, especially the industrial sector, and assured investors of incentives.

"The state has witnessed a long turmoil, which has badly affected almost every sector departing the state... Now the situation has considerably improved and become congenial for making investment," Slathia said while speaking at a function organised here for promoting eco-friendly industrialisation in the state.

Slathia said a large number of outside investors have shown interest to invest in different sectors of the state.

However, he said local investors would be given preference for setting up units to tackle the unemployment problem in the state.

The local youth should come forward in a big way to avail the benefits of incentives under the industrial policy and start their industrial units, Slathia said, adding that educated youth should become job providers rather than job seekers.

Slathia said the government is geared up to usher in a massive industrial culture, encouraging both public and private investment.

He assured prospective investors that their cases would be settled within a week's time, adding that all the incentives would be available to them under the state industrial policy.