B20 meeting under India’s G20 presidency begins in Gangtok today : Delegation from 22 countries with 53 overseas participants 100 Indian delegations converged in Sikkim for the Conference

Sikkim pitches for investment in Green technology, market access, value addition and research and capacity building for its organic products: CM PS Tamang

PIB, KalimNews, Gangtok 16th March, 2023: The B20 Conference under India’s G20 presidency commenced today in Gangtok, Sikkim with the theme ‘Tourism, Hospitality, Pharmaceutical and Organic Farming’. The event was graced by Shri P S Tamang Golay, Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri V B Pathak, Chief Secretary, Sikkim, Ms Rupa Dutta, Principal Adviser, DPIIT, Government of India, Mr Ashish Kumar Sinha, Joint Secretary (G20), G20 Secretariat, Government of India, Mr Noor Rahman Sheikh, Joint Secretary (Economic Diplomacy), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Dr Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission & Addittional Secretary, NITI Aayog, Government of India and Ms Namrata Thapa, Secretary, Department of Information & Public Relation, Government of Sikkim

In his key note address as the Chief Guest, Chief Minister of Sikkim highlighted that with the SDG index of 71 scores high amongst States and have been successful in creating sustainable livelihood through pro people policies. Chief Minister further stated that Sikkim has been recognised as the First Organic State in the country and a booming tourism potential which can be leveraged by the global community.  

Shri V B Pathak, Chief Secretary of Sikkim outlined the potential of Sikkim in the sectors of organic farming, tourism, pharmaceuticals and hospitality. While mentioning that the State has entered into a joint venture with a private player on Organic Farming, Chief Secretary also highlighted that the State has come out with investment friendly policies on tourism to attract tourists especially eco and adventure tourism.

The inaugural session was proceeded by a plenary session on exploring the opportunities for Multilateral Business Partnerships in Tourism, Hospitality, Organic Farming and Pharmaceutical. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in collaboration with the Government of Sikkim and Ministry of External Affairs and DPIIT are partners in this initiative.                                                                                              

Delegation from 22 countries with 53 overseas participants converged in Sikkim for the Conference which also included more than 100 Indian delegations. They will be taken to the Rumtek Monastery, the largest monastery in Sikkim tomorrow for showcasing its rich cultural heritage.

Dr Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission & Additional Secretary, NITI Aayog, Ms Rupa Dutta, Principal Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Shri Ashish Kumar Sinha, Joint Secretary (G20), G20 Secretariat, Government of India, Shri Noor Rahman Sheikh, Joint Secretary (Economic Diplomacy), Ministry of External Affairs, Shri Pradeep Purohit, Member, CII North East Council and other delegates were also present at the event.

ABOUT B20 & G20:

The G20 brings together the world's major and systemically important economies with its members representing 85% of the global GDP and 75% of international trade.

India's G20 presidency presents an opportunity for the country to address pressing global challenges and provides a platform to showcase India's leadership on the global stage and shape the international agenda on critical issues.

Business20 (B20) is one of the most prominent groups amongst various engagement groups with companies and business forums, representing the global business community.It aims to deliver concrete actionable policy recommendations on priorities by each rotating presidency to spur economic growth and development.

India's G20 presidency provides an excellent opportunity for the country to showcase its achievements and opportunities in this sector and engage with private and individual players to further its growth prospects. In this regard, the B20 Conference on Opportunities for Multilateral Business Partnerships in Tourism, Hospitality, Pharmaceutical, and Organic Farming in Gangtok, Sikkim, from 15th to 17th March 2023, is a significant step by the government.

The Northeast region of India, specially Sikkim is blessed with stunning natural beauty and diverse cultural heritage. The region boasts verdant hills, cascading waterfalls, meandering rivers, and exotic wildlife. It’s a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, adventure, and spirituality. Tourists from all over the world have been visiting India to witness its traditions and incredible cultural heritage, which have laid the groundwork for the Indian tourism sector, which contributes about 5% of GDP. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, India implemented numerous reforms to promote tourism, which have significantly boosted the sector.

Organic farming

Sikkim is the first state in the world to be certified as 100% organic. Organic farming is a type of agricultural production that stresses the use of natural inputs and practices to produce crops and livestock free of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It focuses on the cultivation and maintenance of healthy soils, biodiversity, and ecosystems.

Sikkim achieved the incredible milestone of becoming a 100% organic state by converting 75,000 hectares of farmland into certified organic land. It also expanded the scope of cultivation in Sikkim with more than 22 lakh hectares of production recorded.

Increasing health concerns due to the growing number of chemical poisoning cases globally is acting as a driver in the organic food market. India is bestowed with lot of potential to produce all varieties of organic products due to its various agro climatic conditions. In several parts of the country, the inherited tradition of organic farming is an added advantage. This holds promise for the organic producers to tap the market which is growing steadily in the domestic and export sector. As per the available statistics, India's rank 5th in terms of World's Organic Agricultural land and 1st in terms of total number of producers as per 2021 data. Sikkim is recognised as the “world’s first organic state” by the World Book of Records London.

Pharmaceuticals

India has played a critical role in the pharma sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being the third largest exporter of pharmaceutical products worldwide, India has established itself to be a thriving market for the pharmaceutical industry.

In Sikkim, tax incentives, low manufacturing and labor costs, and a pollution-free environment have proved to be the key factors attracting pharma companies.

Tourism and Hospitality-

The tourism and hospitality sector in Sikkim is a market full of opportunities. Local cuisine, handicrafts, and cultural experiences have been the top draws for tourists. Moreover, the union government’s efforts to improve the local infrastructure and create more connectivity domestically and internationally in the region will boost the sector. The Union Budget 2022-23’s new scheme called the Prime Minister's Development Initiative for Northeast Region (PM-DevINE) with a budget allocation of Rs 6600 crore from 2022-23 to 2025-26 objective is to accelerate the development of infrastructure in the North East region and stimulate economic growth in the area.

The conference would facilitate B2B and B2G dialogue in the key sectors of Sikkim. As a part of India’s G20 presidency, the B20 engagement group conference in Sikkim would explore partnerships among business communities from G20 member countries towards developing a common agenda for the development of critical sectors of the economy as a growth driver.