Ladakh: A Land of Opportunity for Business and Investment

Ladakh is amongst the highest intensity of solar radiation locations in India

With more than 320 clear sunny days in a year making Ladakh as a favorable hotspot for solar power generation in India.

Ladakh, the Northern-most union territory of India, shares its international border with China, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Immense business opportunities in Ladakh are offered as the Union Territory lies in the Greater-Himalayan ranges with salt and freshwater lakes, dunes and camels. Indus, Zanskar, and Shyok are the major rivers that flow through the UT. Ladakh is also home to India’s first Night Sky Sanctuary. It is well-connected with a domestic airport in Leh. The union territory has established 1006 Industrial Units grounding total Investment of INR 122.71 Cr after October 2019.

Ladakh is the biggest apricot producer in the country with a total production of 15,789 tonnes that constitutes nearly 62% share in total. The region produced approximately 1,999 tons of dried apricot, making it the largest producer of dried apricot in the country. The total area under apricot cultivation is 2,303 hectares in Ladakh.

Tourism

Hemis, Alchi, Lamayuru, Shey and Thiksay are some of the most popular monasteries of Ladakh that attract both domestic and foreign tourists

Pangong lake (Half in China) and world highest motorable road Khardongla (18350 fts) is main attraction for domestic tourist, and monasteries and mountains are for foreign tourist

Horticulture

Ladakh got its first ever Geographical Indication (GI) Tag to its Raktsey Karpo Apricot

Ladakh is the largest producer of sea buckthorn and apricot in India.

Fruits like walnut, pear, peach and almond and grapes are grown in the warmer belts. The Indus belt has great potential for growing of fruits like apricot and apple. High altitude, cold arid conditions of Ladakh is idle for growing sea buckthorn.

During 2022, 35 MT fresh Apricots were exported to various countries like Singapore, Mauritius, Vietnam from Ladakh for the first time. The first road shipment of Fresh Apricots from Leh to Mumbai was also flagged off in Jul 2023 that marks a significant milestone in the history of Ladakh’s horticulture industry.

Renewable Energy

Ladakh Renewable Energy Development Agency (LREDA) – Ladakh Renewable Energy Initiative

Ladakh has been called the “roof of the world” with abundant sunlight and clear air making it unusually suitable for solar energy technologies. Additionally, GOI has approved the Green Energy Corridor Phase-II – Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) for 13 GW Renewable Energy Project in the UT.

Ayush

Sowa Rigpa, the “knowledge of healing”, is a traditional medical system of Ladakh which originated 2500 years ago in the Trans Himalayan region

Leh hosts the National Institute of Sowa Rigpa, which conducts fundamental research on the repository of wild plants found in the cold desert, capable of nutritional and health benefits.