Tourism Minister for better coordination between tourism, commerce and industry

GANGTOK, 03 June: Tourism & Civil Aviation and Commerce & Industries Minister Ugen T. Bhutia has said it was essential that there be wider linkages between Tourism department and Commerce and Industries with enhanced coordination between the two.
He was speaking to senior officials of the Tourism and Commerce and Industries departments today after having launched new packets of Organic Green tea grown at the world famous Temi Tea Estate in South Sikkim, informs a press release. Mr Bhutia heads both the Departments as the Minister in charge.
“Since tourism is one of the biggest industries in Sikkim, if tea trade and commerce is linked with the tourism sector it would be beneficial not only for both the departments but provide better services to tourists as well as the general public engaged as stakeholders”, he stated.
The informal brief coordination meeting was attended by Tourism secretary, C. Zangpo, Commerce and Industries Secretary, PT Euthenpa, Director Commerce and Industries, B Swaroop, Joint secretary Commerce, Sumitra Pradhan and the General Manager of Temi Tea Estate, Ravi Kumar.
The Minister also said that there was a requirement for professionalism and exposure among government employees. “Our own people have not been able to develop into professionals, so there is an utmost requirement to drag those engaged and employed into professional trainings and expertise”, he said adding that modern times required departments to function as Corporate houses and adapt to the systems applied in the corporate world along with the need to set targets for better performance.
“We should not compromise and it is vital that various units under both the departments be run professionally with a single window system so that the results are better”, said Mr Bhutia.
The Minister said it was pointless to have several committees and bodies, instead a single window system be made practical for our own benefits as well as those for general public, tourists and investors.
“Let us go forward and try our best. There is nothing to lose but only gain. There is no lack of funds and the assets of the two departments are immense”, he added further mentioning that he would also apprise the Chief Minister on the need to prioritise funds for one time grant per annum as per the need.
The Minister directed the heads of the two departments to put up ‘‘concrete proposals’’ at the earliest to ‘systemise’ linkages and explore other possibilities for the departments. He also directed the two departments to make an inventory of assets of the two departments and get a valuation of the total assets prepared and submit an assessment report.
“We often hear, the departments are at a loss from the assets and we will have to find out the reasons as to why it is at a loss and what measures can reduce or do away with such losses”, said the Minister.
He also asked the department to prepare a status report on the total land holdings owned by the departments by the end of next week to chart their future plan of action for these lands to be utilised to the maximum. He said there was also a need to curtail expenditure and provide quality service, the release mentions.
Tourism Secretary, C. Zangpo said that Temi Tea estate, a unit of the Industries department, could be a major tourist destination. Besides tourism festivals like the Cherry tree festival, tourism could grow round the year if the Estate took initiatives for promotions like tea estate safari, plucking experiences at nominal charges and also provide accommodation facilities and other added features for tourists visiting the garden.
He said there was a need to explore South East Asian markets for both tourism and trade. Commerce Secretary, Mr Ethenpa said that certain industries like the Tea industry can create value addition instead of just concentrating on the traditional manufacturing and selling process. Metropolitan cities like Calcutta, Delhi Mumbai etc have to be explored for Sikkim produce with support of the media and market explorations and at the same time target exports to other countries.
The Minister also said that the industries department would start schemes and if farmers and landowners were interested in growing tea or such produce they would be assisted with support from the government. These can also be done on individual, cooperative or cluster approach basis. Technical support, exposure and trainings would form part of the schemes.
Involvement of agencies like Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and other related national level bodies, promotion of Sikkim as the Total Organic destination and a USP can divert tourists to Sikkim in large numbers, he said. Impetus on Markets and consortiums to help market produce in major cities can benefit largely, he added.