Noor-ul-Amin’s dry fruits shop in Srinagar’s Polo View market is not just extremely popular with locals, but also with businessmen and tourists from across the country, besides film celebrities like Juhi Chawla and Manisha Koirala and diplomats from America and Europe.

He sells the products under the brand name Amin-bin-Khaliq and has earned the appreciation of customers from all over the world for his quality products and salesmanship.

Sixty-three-year-old Amin comes from a middle-class family and, after completing his post-graduation, he was more interested in movies than starting his own business.

In the 1970s, he even worked as an assistant to Nasir Hussain who made films like Teesri Manzil, Yaadon Ki Baraat and Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin.

However, things did not work out and Amin returned to Kashmir to set up his shop in 1973. It sold honey, saffron, almonds, walnuts, dried apricots and walnut kernels. Slowly, the business grew.

But the troubled nineties brought serious problems. “The entire business had gone to zero in early 90s and we had to face acute financial problems,” said Amin.

However, things have changed now. And as normalcy returns, Amin says: “Every business in Kashmir will do well.”
Today, he exports dry fruits of all kinds to customers outside the country.

“I’m selling Kashmir and its brand,” says Amin, who wins awards and decorations by the government and NGOs for his “dedication and honesty” almost on a yearly basis.

“Honesty is the best policy,” says Amin, adding that it has paid for him. “Every day I earn new customers,” he said, “as I provide them the best.”

“Life is good when there is family support,” he says, with satisfaction on his face.
His three daughters are married, and his son, who was involved in the carpet trade in London, has now joined his business.

 

http://jammuandkashmirupdate.com/July_2010/A%20Kashmir%20success.html