"We will have brain-storming sessions over the next two days and come up with suggestions and recommendations for the state government to help it bring the state at par with rest of the country in respect of development," ICSI President Nesar Ahmad told reporters here.
He said the state is lacking on many fronts, including literacy and higher education, which is below the national average.
"A large number of youth do not have access to higher education. We are here to invite the students to a bright future in company secretaryship," Ahmad said.
There was also a huge gap in demand and supply for company secretaries in the country, Ahmed said.
"There are nine lakh companies registered under companies act while there are 32 lakh in small and medium enterprise sector, which need compliance report from a company secretary," he said.
He said while the avenues of self-employment as well as finding employment with both public and private sectors were bright after completing the three-year ICSI course, the cost of undertaking the course was nominal compared to other professions like medicine and engineering.
The ICSI president said he will meet vice-chancellor of Kashmir University to discuss the possibility of making the varsity a centre for ICSI courses.
"At present we have a Memorandum of Understanding with Kashmir University which allows ICSI graduates to pursue M Phil but we are keen to upgrade it to PhD level," he said.
Ahmad said the ICSI team will also discuss the possibility of exchange of faculties between Kashmir University and his institute, adding that the ICSI courses can be pursued through distance education mode or through part-time mode also.
Srinagar will host the 13th edition of National Conference of ICSI for the first time.
