International flower show to be held in Sikkim in 2008

Gangtok, May 5 (UNI) Sikkim will organise a week-long international flower show in 2008 with an objective to showcase the floral potential, promote floriculture industry and to highlight the state as a major floriculture destination of the world, official sources said here today.

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling while reviewing the preparations made for organising the flower show said the state was progressively emerging as a global hotspot in the country and the flower show would help to instill creative imagination and generate ideas among the participants.

Mr Chamling said efforts would be made to involve the growers and entrepreneurs not only of the state but also from outside to make the flower show a grand success.

The Chief Minister called upon the bureaucrats to evolve a common strategy and to work on a common agenda to achieve the goal.

Sikkim Minister for Food Security and Agriculture Development Somnath Poudyal and various heads of departments were present at the meeting.

Earlier, during a meeting with the visiting Switzerland Country Director Francois Binder, Mr Chamling said his government was keen to explore the possibilities of participation of European investors and developing agencies in the state particularly in the field of floriculture, horticulture, eco tourism and other service sectors.

In response to Mr Binder's remark that Sikkim has tremendous potential for growth and development in tourism sector, the Chief Minister said '' We are in transforming stage and increasingly calling upon the people to opt for service sectors like eco-tourism as a long term sustainable economic activity.'' UNI BD KK RN 1719