Srinagar, June 25 -- They are caught between high hopes and harsh realities, between dreams of entrepreneurship and the weight of systemic hurdles that hold them back.

Kashmiri industrial sector is small. It contributes just about 10% to the region's Gross Domestic Product, far behind agriculture and government services. But its potential is huge.

Across the world, small industries and skilled entrepreneurs are the engines of growth. In places like Vietnam and Bangladesh, targeted skilling and industrial push have transformed entire economies within decades.

Kashmir can chart a similar path, but it needs to fix what's broken.

One of the biggest problems here is the lack of a steady, reliable workforce. Many young people hesitate to jo...