Tamang hopeful of business, employment generation in the Hills

MP, 28 February 2018, Kolkata: Binay Tamang, chairman, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) said the two-day Darjeeling Business Summit will open a window of opportunity for the people of the Hills in terms of business and employment. He was interacting with CII Eastern Region Council members in Kolkata on Tuesday evening.

A meeting to this effect was held at Uttarkanya on Wednesday. Various state government departments took part to finalise the time and venue for the summit.

"On March 13, the summit will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister during a function at the Darjeeling Chowrasta. On March 14, there will be two sessions from 11 am to 1 p.m and from 1:30 p.m to 2:30 p.m. The Chief Minister will be present for the closing ceremony too," stated Tamang.

A host of businessmen from Kolkata is scheduled to join the two-day summit.

According to Tamang, the Hills will prosper only through business development, economic growth, job creation and peace.

"Darjeeling is a land of abundant natural and human resources," he said, adding that the forthcoming business summit is going to produce win-win results for the hill town.

Aside from focusing on eco-tourism and adventure tourism, the GTA is in process of identifying some heritage sites which can be converted into niche tourism products, he said.

"I seek CII's help in bringing some high-end hotel chains to the Hills," he added.

Subrata Biswas, Principal Secretary, GTA, said law and order top the list of priorities for the administration. There will be no "breakdown of essential services" such as power, healthcare and education in the future, Biswas assured the CII members.

The GTA, he said, has identified a few areas which merit urgent attention. Job creation for the youth and utilisation of properties and GTA assets will be done through fruitful dialogues with the industry and implementation of projects through PPP and private modes, he added.

C Murugan, Secretary, GTA, said Darjeeling has a "huge potential" in terms of agriculture produce, food processing, floriculture, horticulture and even sericulture.

Umesh Chowdhury, Chairman, CII, Eastern Region assured Tamang and his team that CII, which is committed to the growth and development of Darjeeling, is working through its dedicated office in North Bengal with a strong membership base.

As the only apex industry association present in North Bengal, CII will work more closely with the GTA not only to make the business summit a grand success but also work in tandem with the Hill administration for building skill centres, develop infrastructure projects and utilise land parcels, Chowdhary added.

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