Gangtok, February 17 (IPR): The meeting with members from Sikkim Chamber of Commerce and Industry representatives
was organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) today at a local hotel in Gangtok, and was Chaired by the Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Textiles, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution,GOI, Shri Piyush Goyal.He was accompanied by Hon’ble Minister for Energy & Power and Labour, GoS, Shri M.N. Sherpa and Chairman Commerce & Industry, GOS, Shri M.B Chettri.
Chairman of the FICCI Furniture Committee, Chairman, FICCI West Bengal State Council, and former co-chair of the FICCI Northeast Advisory Council, Shri Rudra Chatterjee, gave the introductory remarks.
Similarly, Chairman Commerce & Industry, Government of Sikkim, Shri M.B Chettri addressed the distinguished audience. He spoke about the State Government’s initiatives to expand and promote industries in Sikkim and urged local business owners to take benefit from these initiatives.
The Hon’ble Union Minister in his speech thanked the people of Sikkim for their gracious welcome. He also complimented Sikkim’s effort for sustainable development while applauding the State Government’s initiatives to eliminate the use of plastic products in the State.
The Minister responded to the concerns raised by entrepreneurs representing several industries. He underlined the need to expedite the state’s railway project and promised to increase road and airline connectivity.
He also announced during his speech that a “Highly Efficient Organic Testing Lab” will be established soon in the State.
He urged the citizens, bureaucrats, and the state government to help the export vision of organic produce with an increase from $1 million to $ 1 billion by 2030. “Unless we set ambitious goals, we are not going to achieve much”, he added.
He also stated during his speech that, with assistance from the State Government, he would help to establish a sizable campus for product design and packaging in the state.
Hon’ble Minister also mentioned about the vision and the mission of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, to progress sustainable development in North-Eastern States.He also discussed about various programmes that are being developed to aid entrepreneurs in expanding and succeeding in the industry sector.
In his closing remarks, Minister Shri Goyal promised to address the concerns raised by business representatives and added that he will collaborate with the State Government to ensure overall growth of the region.
Prior to this, industry representatives spoke with the Hon’ble Minister about their concerns and ideas.
The meeting also had the presence of the MLA from Upper Burtuk Constituency, Shri D.R Thapa, MLA from Maneybong Dentam Constituency, Shri N.K. Subba, Chairpersons,Secretaries, representatives from SEED Cell, Officials and dignitaries from State and Central Government, heads of Associations from different sectors, budding entrepreneurs and others.
The session concluded with the words of thanks proposed by General Secretary, Sikkim chamber of Commerce, Shri Kailash Agarwal.
