Nathula opening to boost Siliguri as IT hub

New Delhi, June 25 (UNI) Opening of the Indo-China border at Nathula scheduled in July will boost prospects of Siliguri becoming a major information technology hub.

''After the opening of the Indo China border trade through Nathula on July 6, Siliguri, the business town nearest to the border will become one of the gateways to South Asia and hence increase in importance. This will also open up prospects for the IT industry,'' NASSCOM president Kiran Karnik told UNI.

Setting a three year deadline, he stressed on the necessity to plan ahead so that the city can have the facilities like international air connectivity, adequate road transport and power facilities.

Experts said that the opening of Nathula will be a new chapter in India-China relations and this will open new vistas in the IT co-operation between the two countries. This is where Siliguri can play a role.

They added that electronic giants like Videocon have planned to set up their export base for the SAARC countries in Siliguri.

''Something similar can be planned by the IT industries as well,'' they stressed.

IT majors like Infosys, Wipro, TCS and Satyam have set up their offices in China and IT companies of China also planning to expand into India. ''When they do so, the major IT hubs being already saturated, a place like Siliguri can be suggested to them for seeting up base,'' the experts pointed out.

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