China to flood Bengal market with silk through Nathu La: Manab

Kolkata, July 9 (UNI) With the reopening of Sikkim's ancient silk route, Nathu La, West Bengal apprehends that its markets will be flooded with foreign silk.

State Minister for Cottage and Small-Scale Industries Manab Mukherjee has said, ''China the immediate neighbouring state, will flood the state's markets with its silk after reopening of the Sino-Indian border trade.'' Nathu La, about 900 kms from here, was thrown open for fresh trading between India and China--the two Asian giants.

''China now controls 78 per cent of the world market in silk and unless the silk industry in the state is modernised, it will be difficult to stand up to competition,'' Mr Mukherjee stated.

He said the state-owned consultancy firm, WEBCON, was appointed to prepare a report on how to modernise the silk industry and draft a detailed project report to revamp the silk trade right from cultivation of silk worm to weaving and marketing.

The WEBCON study revealed that an investment of Rs 161 crore was needed for modernisation of such industry and the state government was studying the report, the minister added.

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