Sikkim Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling’s NewYork Presentation Speech

we are again reproducing the full version of the written presentation read out by the Sikkim chief minister, Pawan Chamling at the “North East India Investment Conference” New York on September 26, 2007. The speech is more than twice as detailed as Ibobi’s, and there is also a world of difference in the range and depth. Sikkim and Assam were the two states which commanded attention at the conference. We are reproducing these speeches so that the people can make their own assessments.I bring with me the warmest Greetings of the people of our State Sikkim and country India to the people of the United States of America and the members of the Pravashi Bharatiya fraternity. Our greetings carry in them the fragrance of rhododendrons and orchid, serenity of the pristine Kanchenjunga mountain, holiness of priceless cultural heritage and affections of hill folks with rich social values.Sikkim is one of the most fascinating eco-tourism destinations in the world. We depict the real story of continuity amidst change. We take pride in being the living example of unparalleled and the most successful sustainable practices.With a unique political history, Sikkim today has a robust democracy that has trickled down to every hearth and home and every individual. Democracy has climbed the remotest valley. We are therefore, declared as the third best state in the Panchayati Raj implementation in the country. With a consistently maintained very low level of crime rate and proven record of socio-political stability, Sikkim boasts of having the highest per capita availability of peace perhaps in whole of Asia. Our State is terrorism and insurgency free. Peacefulness and tranquility are inbuilt in Sikkimese ethos. Unlike many parts of the world, we have redefined the concept of border state as a bridge between States and Nations to foster friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding. This is our hallmark and this is our priceless brand name also.We have one of the best social indicators and have achieved unprecedented success in areas like environment, tourism, horticulture, decentralization and cross border interactions. We have published very many state of the art reports and volumes including Sikkim Human Development Report and Sikkim: the People’s vision.We started very late in the modern development interventions. Widely successful Freen Revolution is yet to reach Sikkim. Mega industrial ventures do not exist there. We have not seen much of mainstream technologies. Yet, Sikkim has one of the highest economic growth rates in the country. Our State was declared the best State in the whole of Eastern and North Eastern India by reputed fortnightly magazine India Today in 2006.Our development foundation is mainly based on eco-tourism characterized by amazingly fabulous and charming natural resources. Our growth is triggered by traditional farming practices that produce a magnificent variety of horticultural, floricultural and ethno-medicinal items. With a negligible use of chemical fertilizer, we have been the harbinger of organic farming in the country. I very warmly invite all the distinguished commercial corporate establishments here in the US to Sikkim for investment and development interventions. Our investment laws are most liberal. Our labour laws are incredibly investor friendly. Most importantly we have rich hydro-power potential. A range of reputed independent power producers are already working in our State. B 2015, we plan to generate over 4000 MW.I keep reading about the ever increasing craving for ethnic food, ethnic medicines, ethnic services and ethnic values among the American and European people. To say in the American parlance, we pretty much remain the storehouse of all the ethnic values, ethnic practices and traditional beauties. Look at our natural herigage. With over 4000 species of striking varieties of plants and shrubs and around 700 species of rare orchids and rhododendrons, we are one of the top bio-diversity hotspots in the world. We are storehouse of very rare medicinal and aromatic plants. I am told that the American people pretty much like Ringad (wild fern and what we locally call Nigro) and water crest (what we locally call Simrayo). We traditionally grow both of these in highly organic condition. Our passion fruits, ginger and cardamom are of unparalleled quality and flavour.All these provide space to both traditionalist and modernist. We are a playground for both ethno practices based tourism activities and a modern pharmaceutical research based commercial harnessing of our intellectual property resources. Perhaps nowhere they coexist in such a harmonious and complementary manner. Therefore, I am here before this very distinguished gathering to invite the American people, Pravashi Bharatiya community and traders, investors and corporate houses to take advantage of all these.You will have an unparalleled advantage. The Government of India has now reopened the old trade route through Nathy la pass in Sikkim with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. This mans connectivity and market access to the entire eastern Himalayas and the huge and unexploited region of entire western landmass of China. In very near future, this route is likely to be a normal trade route that will function under the most favored nation (MFN) arrangement. Our exports could be anything varying froom people centric commercial services to energy and from construction material to traditional incense sticks used in monasteries and temples. This is the shortest and most viable land route to access Chinese market from anywhere in South Asia.We have the crystal vision of integrating trade and tourism in the very near future. With the Buddhist relics of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Manmar, Nepal and India being integrated, Nathu la will be the fountain head of magnificently unparalleled eco-tourism panorama and treks. This makes us play a very critical role in India’s “Look East Policy”. Our contribution in steadily converting a hard border into a soft one and emerging as a bridge between two diverse civilizations of India and China is in fact being now replicated within India and outside.Therefore, Sikkim provides a huge scope for making investments in Hotels which are beyond the traditional landmark of 5 stars. We have opened the State with very attractive incentives for golf courses and amusement parks. Ours is perhaps the only State in the country, which provides license and other provisions for opening casinos. Required land is easily forthcoming on the basis of 99 years arrangement from Government to Private Developers.Empowerment of people is the core content of our political philosophy. If individuals are happy, communities are contented and institutions re sound, we believe that the country will be in a fast forward progress mode. Social mobilization in the nation building process then will be easier and smoother. We are doing exactly this in Sikkim. Look at our gender development index which is perhaps the highest in the country. Besides the well researched and jealously maintained traditional liberal social practices, Sikkim is the only State in the country which has had women in the post of Speaker of its Legislative Assembly and introduced 40 percent affirmative share at all levels of rural governance for women. Per capita average annual earning of our government employees is the highest in the country. Well known NGOs and international development agencies have a strong presence in the State. For a noted Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation also, Sikkim has been a model state.Very distinguished guests in this august gathering.What Sikkim requires today is modern technological and managerial intervention in the harnessing of its natural resources based comparatively advantages. With over 45 percent of the total geographical area under forest cover, total ban use of plastic bags and popular statewide Green Mission in operation, I was given the honour of being declared as the “Greenest Chief Minister” in the country in a nationwide poll conducted by Down to Earth Magazine published by Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi. This is why we are declared as the best maintained State in arena of Total Sanitation Campaign under the Nirmal Rajya programme. In other words, Sikkim provides comprehensive security to the mainstream India.We need institutions and corporate houses that bring a comprehensive package from field market ventures. We invite actions that connect producers of cardamom, tea, orchids, ethno-medicines, carpets, hydel power to the American and other markets. We will be delighted to host those exclusive investors that specialize on harnessing the beauties of our serene lakes and furious water fall. We keenly look forward to agencies and houses that sell the idea of cross border Buddhist circuits to the orthodox lovers and modern fans of eco-tourism spread across the globe.Our strength also lies in a variety of service sector activities including education, health, construction, communication, energy, tourism, transport, trade banking and insurance. In all these we have the best of facilitating agencies, investment friendly legal and institutional norms. For instance, there is a huge scope for energy efficiency technology dissemination, bio-technology, organic certification, patents designing, hospitality business, cross border trade in services and, of course, modern communication techniques. We are always ready to tailor our norms and practices to the needs and aspirations of investors.After seeing what is happening in China and other South East Asian countries, Sikkim has realized that there is a huge scope for opening Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in our state. This is an area the American investors particularly the Indian diaspora here must explore. In the last two years I personally led delegation of our State abroad. This included visits to the South East Asian countries including Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand and to six European countries including Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Given the geography, liberal investment environment, rich human resources and special natural resource endowments, these visits have generated a lot of enthusiasm and corporate interests to invest in Sikkim.Once you are there in Sikkim, it is a place that dazzles your spirit, enlightens your mental faculty and emboldens your decisive culture. We welcome you heartily. We have had very well known corporate houses from Europe, south East and East Asia visiting us in the last three years. Many of them are now finalizing their ventures and participation in the State. I assure all of you that Sikkim with ever smiling faces and warm hearts will be a destination worth considering in terms of a sustainable and gainful partnership.While our concerns on globalization remains as acutely as what famous American Economist Joseph Stiglitz has elaborated in his widely read book “Globalisation and its Discontents”, we remain doubly reassured by our Prime Minister Dr Manmohan singh’s unflinching commitment to maximize on the advantages of flobalisation, His dictum of “inclusive development” as the theme of the ongoing 11th Five Year Plan could bring a massive transformation in the flourishing economy and diverse society of today’s India. I am deeply delighted to notice the presence of Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia in this august gathering. He is one of the chief architects of India as an emerging global power and represents a new generation of India’s astute policy thinkers.Let me also mention that Sikkim being a small state of hardly 600000 people also has the privilege of hosting a national university created by an act of Parliament. We are now designing a range of both traditional and non-traditional courses in the University. We plan to have very specific courses on mountain ecology, border management, bio-technology, military sciences, disaster management, migration, development communications, bio-diversity, natural resources management and hydrology, human security and environment. It is a new University where we intend to make both national and international recruitments. We hall have students from all over. I take this opportunity to invite the American educational institutions to collaborate with us in making this national University mutually beneficial.I thank you all for giving me this rare opportunity to make my presentation before you. I warmly congratulate all the members of the Indian diasporas here for their love and dedication to their country Mother India. I extend my deep gratitude to our distinguished American friends for their gracious presence here in this gathering. I also thank all the Ministries of Government of India and distinguished officials from India for making this superb arrangement for us too interact with the American people.We have a very resourceful mission and a highly dedicated team of diplomats and officials here in the UD led by one of our very knowledgeable, versatile and seasoned diplomats Mr Ronen Sen. I am sure our Mission here would be of tremendous support ot facilitate your visit to initiate corporate activities in Sikkim. We remain there to welcome you as our honoured and valued guests. Sikkimese hospitality is known all over for its warmth and highly cultured services, Please visit us soon to see what we can do for you.Thank you once again.Jai Hind

Nathula-Memmencho-Kuppu tourist circuit in Sikkim gets Rs.4.54 crore

The Ministry of Tourism (MOT) gives special importance to improve the quality of tourism infrastructure all over the country. The Ministry has sanctioned several projects allover the country. These projects propose to create high class tourism infrastructure and facilities which will provide an opportunity for unique experience to the visitors. The Ministry of Tourism extends Central Financial Assistance to the State Governments/UTs for Product/Infrastructure Development of Destinations and Circuits. During the XIth Five Year Plan period a double-pronged strategy of upgrading the tourism infrastructure and vigorous marketing under the banner of ‘Incredible India Campaign’ was followed to position India as a global brand.
During 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012) Ministry of Tourism propose to continue supporting creation of world class infrastructure in the country so that existing tourism products can be further improved and expanded to meet new market requirements and enhance the competitiveness of India as a tourist destination. In consultation with the State Governments and UTs the Ministry of Tourism have identified several tourist circuits and destinations for integrated development. During the current financial year the Ministry has sanctioned so far Rs.323.00 crore for various projects throughout the country. This is an all time record and will facilitate timely execution of projects during the working season.

The project sanction includes Tourist infrastructure is being developed in "Nathula-Memmencho-Kuppu tourist circuit in Sikkim (Rs.4.54 crore)".

Sikkim takes bite of Big Apple

SIKKIM SHOWCASE ITS TOURISM POTENTIAL, POWER RIDE AND SILK ROUTE TO USA

New York, Sept. 29: At least for one day, the conversation on Assam was not about how much damage the floods had caused this year. And there was little talk about “disturbed areas” or about how many insurgent organisations were active in the Northeast.
Instead, a procession of chief ministers, deputy chief ministers, senior ministers and chief secretaries from six northeastern states were at their best in New York last week, selling their region to the world at a full-day Northeast India Investment Conference.
They used Powerpoint presentations, slides and prepared speeches — neatly printed and distributed among the audience by bureaucrats, not hotel waiters — to project a picture of the Northeast that people here had never seen before.
The orchids, fruits, aromatic plants and bamboo plantations of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur’s Loktak Lake with its surrounding green hills and Keibul Lamjao, the world’s last habitat of the Sangai, the bow-antlered deer, the Muga silks of Assam, Sikkim’s success with the environment, which earned its chief minister, Pawan Chamling, the title of “greenest chief minister” in a nationwide poll... and so on.

America’s response to the conference certainly met the expectations of the organisers, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Union ministry for development of the Northeast region.
In Grand Hyatt Hotel’s Manhattan ballroom, which can seat 400 people, there were no vacant seats at any table when the chief ministers and senior ministers from the Northeast were collectively addressing the conference in the morning.
Tarun Das, the CII’s chief mentor, said this was the “first effort to flag the Northeast as an area of investment internationally”.

The presence of Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, as the chief guest at the conference lent a lot of credibility to the event because he is well known and respected in the financial and corporate world here as a key promoter of India’s economic reforms.
A high-power team of government secretaries from New Delhi and heads of public sector infrastructure companies demonstrated to the audience that the central government was firmly backing the investment promotion drive by the Northeast states.

Incredible India @ 60 in Big Apple Concludes

New York, 26 September 2007:A Grand Finale, with the stage being taken over by each one of the dance and music troupes from India in an energetic symphony that represented all of the country’s incredible diversity in a single rhythm, was the culmination of the IncredibleIndia@60 campaign being held in New York from 23-26 September. The vibrant performances represented the conclusion of the event jointly organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Ministry of Tourism.
During the four-day event, denizens of New York were also treated to a sand sculpture of theTaj Mahal, painstakingly put together by international artist Sudarsan Patnaik, who grew up on the wide beaches of Orissa and has represented India at many international sand sculpture competitions, winning accolades and awards for his creations. India’s enduring symbol of love has been exquisitely recreated at the Port Authority Bus Station where thousands could
witness it.
New Yorkers also strolled through an exhibition of evocative photographs by National Geographic photo-artist Steve McCurry hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and the National Geographic Channel. McCurry, who has won 30 international awards for his vivid images, brought the colorful vibrancy of daily life in India through a series of large photos ranging from the child Buddhist monk to the tribal women and chaotic bazaars. The beauty across the country was captured in enduring perfectly-crafted pictures.
The South Street Seaport was home to the India Tourism information booth as well as those of the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Stalls were also set up during the four days by the Spice Board of india, ITC-Maurya Hotel, the Tea Board and the Coffee Board, which dispensed a taste of India to the crowds. India’s largest customer for spices is the US and a range of flavorful spices were laid out. The teas from Assam, Nilgiris and Darjeeling drew large numbers of people to raise awareness of the branding of Indian tea. Booths also distributed colorful glass bangles, while a lady used henna for intricate designs on hands.
But the enthralling part of the evening comprised the rousing performances of the fusion music bands of Remo Fernandes and Colonial Cousins, both of which had the large crowd on their feet, clapping and dancing to the rhythms of the new India. “I am excited to perform in this city that is always moving,” said Remo, but he himself kept the throngs moving with his popular numbers ‘Hamma, hamma’ and ‘O Meri Munni’. Remo is the largest selling English language musician in
India and has been awarded the Padamshree.
Colonial Cousins also captivated the huge crowd of tourists, office-goers, and local Indians that had gathered on the pier. Their meld of Indian ragas and Western rhythms and lyrics has won many awards, including the Billboard Award. The two bands, representing modern India, truly wowed the Big Apple. Smiles came out on the faces of young and old as the stage was taken over by Puran Bhatt and his troupe of Rajasthani puppets. Cameras clicked and videos hummed as the mesmerized crowd watched the Anarkali and Bahurupiyapuppets.
Folk dances from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Assam, Kerala, and other parts of India as well as the traditional Kathakali dancers, revealed the intense diversity of the country. Yet as the drums of south India and those of north-east India rose together in a single rhythm, and the graceful Bihu dancers shared the stage with the energetic martial dancers, the different tunes and styles, the varying movements and steps, synchronized into a single entity that was emblematic of the unity of the country. The lively and joyful dances, choreographed by Maitrayi Pahadi of the Sangeet Natak Academy and representing almost 30 distinct styles, celebrated the range of India’s traditions.
The cultural events at the South Street Seaport and Bryant Park were organized by theMinistry of Tourism, which showcased the range of India’s unique attributes from taste to sound and music. “The Incredible India campaign presents a single brand that is always evolving to the rest of the world. State governments are building their own images and differentiating themselves,” said Amitabh Kant, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism. The New York events had the support of Ms Ambika Soni, Minister of Tourism, who could not be present. Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Mr Vayalar Ravi, attended the grand finale. The finale brought to an end an incredible four days during which New York was taken over by the Incredible India@60 campaign. Organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Ministry of Tourism, the campaign fused together the business and economic branding of the country with its cultural
branding. “This definitely makes me want to go to India,” remarked a visitor at the
South Street Seaport.
And as the full moon smiled down on the pleasant evening and the strains of thousands of people singing Vande Mataram filled the air, the Indian tricolor fluttered proudly from the tall masts of the berthed sailing ship at the New York pier.

Sikkim CM Dr. Pawan Chamling : All Nepali Speaking People of World Get United.

मुख्यमन्त्री चाम्लिंगद्वारा नेपालीभाषीहरुलाई एकजूट हुन आव्हान
-सुजित ढकाल / न्यूयोर्क नेपाली ताईम्स
न्यूयोर्क,सेप्टेम्बर २७,: नेपाली भाषा साहित्यको तीर्थस्थल मानिने भारतीय राज्य सिक्किमका मुख्य मन्त्री डा. पवन कुमार चाम्लिंगले संसारभरका नेपालीभाषीहरुलाई एकजूट हुन आव्हान गर्नु भएको छ।अमेरिका भ्रमणको अन्त्यमा रहनु भएका मुख्य मन्त्री चाम्लिंगले न्यूयोर्कस्थीत नेपाली समूदायका तर्फबाट उहांको सम्मानमा आयोजित भेट्घाट कार्यक्रममा नेपाली समूदाय बिभिन्न जात जातिहरुबाट बनेको स्थितिमा "हामी नेपाली"को साझा भावनाबाट मात्रै बिदेशमा बलियो शक्त्तीको रुपमा अगाडि आउन सकिने बास्तबिकता दर्शाउनु भयो। उंहाले अहिलेसम्म नेपाली जातिलाई अरुको काम गर्ने जातिको रुपमा सबैले हेर्दै आएको अवश्थामा अब नेपालीहरुले पनि नेतृत्वदायी भूमिका निभाउनु पर्ने आवश्यक्तामा जोड दिनु भयो।प्रशान्त तामांगले ईण्डीयन आईड्ल जितेको प्रसंग उल्लेख गर्दै डा. चाम्लिंगले भावुक हुदै भन्नु भयो-"प्रशान्तको स्वरमा भारतीय नेपालीहरुले आफ्नो अस्तित्व खोजिरहेका छ्न।" उहांले आफूले प्रशान्तलाई न्यूयोर्कबाटै बधाई दिएको बताउदैं आफू प्रशान्त लगायत सम्पूर्ण नेपालीभाषीहरुको हितमा लागिरहने दॄढता बयक्त्त गर्नुभयो।आफ्नो अस्तित्वको रक्षा गरिरहेका भारतीय नेपालीभाषीहरुले भानु जयन्ती नेपालमा भन्दा बढी धूमधामले मनाउनु स्वभाविक भएको बताउदै मुख्य मन्त्री चाम्लिंगले भन्नु भयो-" जहां बसेपनि, जहां रहेपनि हामी नेपाली हौं, हाम्रो रगत नेपाली हो"।न्यूयोर्क नेपाली टाईम्सको पहलमा यूनाईटेड किरांत राई अर्गानाईजेसन अफ अमेरिकाद्वारा संयोजन गरिएको सो कार्यक्रम म्यानहाटनको ग्रयाण्ड हयात होटलमा सम्पन्न भएको थियो।कार्यक्रममा अमेरिकी नेपालीहरुका तर्फबाट नेपाली आदिबासी जनजाती महासंघका उपसभापति पूर्ण लिम्बूले मुख्य मन्त्रीलाई माला पहिरयाई अभिन्न्दन गर्नु भएको थियो भने मुख्य मन्त्री चाम्लिंगले सम्पूर्ण सहभागीहरुलाई खादा ओढाई सम्मान गर्नुभएको थियो।
कार्यक्रममा सुजित ढकाल ( न्यूयोर्क नेपाली टाईम्स), केशव राई (यूनाईटेड किरांत राई अर्गानाईजेसन अफ अमेरिका), सुरेश चाम्लिंग (यूनाईटेड किरांत राई अर्गानाईजेसन अफ अमेरिका), पूर्ण लिम्बू (किरांत याक्थूम चुम्लुंग), केशव कुमार तामांग (तामांग सोसाईटी अफ अमेरिका), राम तामांग (तामांग सोसाईटी अफ अमेरिका),शम्भू मोत्तान (तामांग सोसाईटी अफ अमेरिका), मणि बाड०देल (किरांत राई सोसाईटी अफ अमेरिका), बिजय राई (किरांत राई सोसाईटी अफ अमेरिका) र अनील शाही (एलायन्स फर डेमोक्रेसी एण्ड ह्यूमन राईट्स)लगायत बिभिन्न नेपाली संघ संस्थाका प्रतिनिधिहरु सहभागी हुनुहुन्थ्यो।मुख्य मन्त्री चाम्लिंगले त्यस अवसरमा सहभागी नेपालीहरुलाई चिनो स्वरुप सिक्किमबाट ल्याइएका उपहारहरु प्रदान गर्नुभएको थियो भने स्थानीय नेपाली संघ संस्थाका प्रतिनिधीहरुले पनि उहांलाई उपहार प्रदान गरेका थिए।मुख्य मन्त्री चाम्लिंगले अमेरिकी नेपालीहरुको सम्मानमा चियापान कार्यक्रमको पनि आयोजना गर्नु भयो।

INVEST IN SIKKIM, CM ASKS NRIs

Chamling extends invitation to American educational institutions to collaborate with Central University
GANGTOK, September 27: The Government of India will be taking major initiatives for the development of North Eastern Region in the 11th Five Year Plan especially in the sector of education, healthcare, infrastructure and connectivity.
This was said by Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission during the North East India Investment Conference held yesterday in New York, USA.
Organized jointly by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), the Conference was attended by Montek Singh Ahluwalia as the chief guest while Sunil Bharti Mittal, President CII, Chairman and Group CEO Bharti Enterprises was the special invitee.
Mr. Ahluwalia also expressed his happiness for initiating this exercise and hoped that this would be a continuing affair for the development of North East Region.
He further informed that Government of India has laid a lot of emphasis for the development of North East Region as without which the development of the country remains unfulfilled.
Mr. Ahluwalia also expressed his happiness for initiating this exercise and hoped that this would be a continuing affair for the development of North East Region.
During the conference, Mr. Mittal informed that he was extremely happy with his experience in the investment in the North East region which has resulted in good returns especially in the field of the telecom sector and he believed that there is ample scope for investment in the North East region in all sectors.
Chief Minister Pawan Chamling expressed his happiness for organizing the conference by the CII in collaboration with DONER showcasing North East at New York, USA. North East region has a great potential and during the 11th Five Year Plan, Government of India will be having special schemes for the speedy development in the North East.
He further informed that Sikkim today is a robust democracy that has trickled down to every individual with a very low level of crime rate and proven record of socio political stability with highest per capita availability of peace perhaps in the whole of Asia. Sikkim is the most peaceful border state in the India Union maintaining perfect cultural blend of ethnic communities in a single entity. At the back drop of clean Himalayan height, government is open minded and investor friendly. It invites investors as development partners and appeals to the Indian community in the United States to come forward to invest in Sikkim especially in the field of tourism, education, healthcare, hydel power, floriculture, information technology and capacity building. Government of India has approved setting up a central university for Sikkim and the university will be providing both traditional and non traditional courses like mountain ecology, border management, biotechnology, military sciences, disaster management, migration, development communication, biodiversity, natural resources management and hydrology, human security and environment. Mr. Chamling has also extended an invitation to American educational institutions to come forward to collaborate with this university on mutually benefiting terms. He further informed that the old Silk Route via Nathula to Tibet Autonomous Region reopened last year and expects further transit trade through this route including tourism.
Although Sikkim is a very small state but its big heart and ever smiling faces is worth considering for investment in terms of sustainable and gainful partnership, he said further applauding the efforts of the Ambassador of India to the US and other diplomats for extending their cooperation to make this event successful.
He further invited all the participants to Sikkim to feel the warmth of Sikkimese hospitality and thereafter take a judicious decision to invest in Sikkim.

Chamling invites US investment for Sikkim

GANGTOK: Sikkim Chief Minister P K Chamling, currently on a tour to the United States, has invited foreign investment for the economic development of the Himalayan state and other states of the Northeast. A state government release on Thursday said that while addressing the North-East Indian Investment Conference in New York last night, he appealed to the foreign investors, particularly the non-resident Indians, to become a partner in the economic development of Sikkim and other Northeast states. Chamling underlined the state's huge potential in tourism, education, floriculture, hydel power, education and infrastructure. He also invited NRIs and American tourists to visit the picturesque sites of the state including the Silk Route via Nathula Pass which were opened for traders of China and India, last year, the release said.

Dr. Pawan Chamling: Sikkim Only State in India Where Onshore Casinos Permitted

New York, Sep 27 (IANS) :The north eastern states of India highlighted their many strengths at a business conference here and enticed US entrepreneurs to invest in high potential sectors like tourism, food and agro industries, infrastructure, minerals, IT and communications for socio-economic development in the region.
The daylong North East India Investment Conference, which was held Wednesday, was the last big conclave that concluded the Incredible India@60 mega event here.
It was organised by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
'It is the first time that the region has been presented internationally as an investment opportunity,' Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi said.
Six states in the region sent high-level delegations, three led by chief ministers.
While making a pitch for investment in what has been almost virgin territory, the speakers at the conference underlined that the region was abundant in resources like oil, coal, minerals and water. They also highlighted that the region had unparalleled scenic beauty, was rich in biodiversity affording great scope for horticulture and floriculture, followed organic farming and had a huge English speaking, educated population, making it ideal as an IT and communications hub.
Gogoi especially invited investment in the education sector 'to move towards a knowledge-based economy'. IT already is the fastest moving sector in the state, he pointed out.
Meghalaya's deputy chief minister, Mukul Sangma, argued that since individual states were small, 'presenting the region as a unit will make them more attractive for investors'.
He added that for India to do business with countries to its southeast, the region is the gateway.
To drive home the point that the rest of the country is ignorant about the northeast, which does not attract enough tourism despite its natural beauty, Sangma said: 'I have been to most hill stations in the country and I can vouch that Shillong is the most beautiful among them.'
Manipur's Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh agreed that the general impression about insurgency and law and order problems in parts of the region have kept business and industry away.
'The root of the problem, however, is unemployment among the educated. Once investment kicks off development, creating jobs, the problem can be solved,' he said.
Sikkim's Chief Minister Pawan Chamling was quick to mention the socio-political stability in the state. He also said that Sikkim was the only Indian state where onshore casinos were permitted.
H. Khekiho Zhimoni, industry minister of Nagaland, and Chowna Mein, rural development minister of Arunachal Pradesh, also spoke during the conference.
Dipankar Chatterji, chairman of the CII's North East Council, pointed out that investors in the northeast would enjoy major tax breaks and subsidies that were unavailable in other parts of the country.
Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, was the chief guest at the conference while Nandan Nilekani, co-chairman of Infosys, addressed the session on IT.
Coming up from Oct 1 to 4 is the North-East India Investment Opportunities Week in Bangkok.

North East India Investment Conference @ New York

Northeast India Must Enhance Transportation to Become Ideal Tourist Destination

Newyork,27-Sep-2007: While Northeast India has several wildlife habitats and IT resources, government officials say the region must further develop its infrastructure in order to generate tourism. Plans are already underway, India’s Deputy Chairman Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia says, to build thousands of kilometers of roads and numerous airport hubs. However, unlike other regions, Ahluwalia says the northeast sector must rely primarily on public investments rather than public/private partnerships. Ahluwalia was joined by other business and government officials at an Incredible India@ 60 conference in New York City on Sept. 26.

Dr. Chamling to attend North East India Investment Conference Today

North East India Investment Conference @ NewYork Today

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may have discreetly decided to stay away from US President George W. Bush at his ranch in Crawford and during this annual season of summits in the Big Apple, but it is not preventing his government from going into overdrive to woo America.
India is employing a pioneering new strategy in this courtship of the US: it is offering the Northeast to Americans for investment and tourism.
The chief ministers of Sikkim,Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur will all be in New York on the same platform on September 26 to court America.
Also taking part in the same initiative will be the deputy chief minister of Meghalaya, the industry ministers of Assam, Nagaland , and the information technology ministers of Meghalaya and Assam.
The programme is Organised by the Ministry for the Development of the North Eastern Region (DONER) in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry, the North East India Investment Conference would be to provide information on investment opportunities in the North Eastern States of India and facilitate interactions with the 8 States located in the Region.

In a sense, if any collective decision-making on the Northeast has to be taken within the Indian government during that week, it will be done in New York.

The chief guest at this Northeast India Investment Conference here will be the man who controls the purse strings for the development of the region: Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission.
On the corporate side, the effort will be anointed by Sunil Bharti Mittal, the president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), which has put together the event.
Conspicuously absent from this region-wide initiative is Tripura, which is ruled by the CPM.
Americans are not wasting any time speculating on why no one — neither a civil servant nor a bureaucrat — from Tripura is taking part in this programme.

The four-day event was kicked off with the minister for overseas Indian affairs, Vayalar Ravi, acting as master of ceremonies at a mini-Pravasi Bharatiya Divas at the spectacular location of New York’s Chelsea Piers, which are built on four historic piers on the Hudson river waterfront.The function was also attended by Sikkim Chief Minister Dr. Chamling.

PRAVASI BHARTIYA DIVAS NEW YORK 2007

The conference focused on finance, digital opportunities, infrastructure and globalization of Indian companies.

Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister of Sikkim concentrating him on 'Engaging the Diaspora, The Way Forward'.

New York, September 26: Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister of Sikkim attended the PBD New York 2007 Engaging the Diaspora. This is the first international Pravasi Bhartiya Divas organised by CII and the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. PBD New York 2007. Conference titled 'Engaging the Diaspora: The Way Forward', the PBD USA 2007 discussed on tangible roles for the Indian Diaspora in North American and its neighbouring regions as they contribute to the development challenges that India faces today.
The Way Forward organized jointly by Ministry of Overseas India Affairs Government of India Confederation of India Industry & Overseas Indian Facilation Center at New York USA on September 23rd 2007. Sunil Bharati Mittal President CII lauded the initiatives taken by both India and the US to improve bilateral relationship and to bring the proficiency and knowledge of overseas Indians to India and fought to integrate it into India's development. He also highlighted that a lot of development have already taken place and more is required to be done especially in the field of educational infrastructure and rural development so that by 2020 India becomes a self sufficient nation in the world. The conference focused on finance, digital opportunities, infrastructure and globalization of Indian companies. The conference was also addressed by Rohan Sen, India Ambassador to the US, Vayalar Ravi Minister of Overseas India Affairs, Kamal Nath Union Minister of Commerce and Industry and Sam Pitroda Chairman Knowledge Commission. Nandan Nilekari Co Chairman Infosys Technologies was also present and the meeting was attended by a large number of dignitaries. It was also announced that the next Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas will be held at New Delhi on Jan 8-9th 2008 in Vigyan Bhawan.

Sikkim Dancers Performing in NewYork, USA

Sikkim CM Dr. Chamling Attends Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, New York 2007

New York - Incredible India@60, a four-day celebration commemorating the 60th anniversary of Independence of the world's largest democracy, kicked off in New York, US, Sunday, September 23.

The event, organized jointly by the industry lobby Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Ministry of Tourism, will focus on strengthening business, diplomacy and cultural ties between the two nations.According to Nandan Nilekani, co-chairman of Indian IT bellwether, Infosys Technologies, the $10 million campaign, whose focus is to generate awareness about the changing face of India, will be "looking at creating a presence, a space for India.""The idea is to have four days of high impact on business, diplomacy and culture," Nilekani, who is the chairman of the Incredible India@60 organizing body, explained.Nilekani added that over the past 27 years that he had been dealing with the US, he had never seen "this kind of a huge interest in India, so this is the right time to undertake such an exercise.""The argument always was that democracy is a luxury for a poor country like India... that argument has now been blown out. Even 15-20 years ago Indian companies were being asked 'who are you,' but today we find a big sea change," Nilekani said."India now gets far more visibility and impact in the US," where not only the success of Indian entrepreneurs was being noted, but also the potential of the growing Indian consumer market, he said."This is a major initiative. We intend to leave a very strong impression of India," said Sunil Mittal, president, CII and chairman and group CEO, Bharti Enterprises. Mittal's group company Bharti Airtel is the largest mobile services provider in the private sector in India.The event, Mittal said, will witness the participation of the "the creamy layer of US companies" including Indra Nooyi, chairperson and CEO, PepsiCo; Charles Kaye, co-president, Warburg Pincus; John Chambers, chairman and CEO, Cisco Systems; and L. Brooks Entwistle, MD and CEO, Goldman Sachs (India).According to sources close to the development, eight other Indian ministries and eight overseas partners including universities of Columbia, Harvard and Yale, NYSE and Business Roundtable will also take part in the event.

Singapore foreign minister George Yeo; Brazilian foreign minister Celso Amorin; and Ernesto Zedillo, former president of Mexico will also take part in the celebrations, the sources said.On Monday, India's leading business salt to software conglomerate Tata group's chairman Ratan Tata will preside over a meeting of the Indo-US CEO Council to be held in New York, the sources added.

"Early success stories have started coming out of India. Once these stories come out, more investments will follow," Mittal explained.Sessions like "Investing in India" and "India's social building blocks," presided by speakers like India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee; Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi; and internationally renowned telecom inventor, technocrat and a social visionary Sam Pitroda are expected to be a huge draw.And, for the connoisseurs of art and culture, the event promises a repertoire of Indian music, including performances by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Colonial Cousins and Remo; dance recitals by performers from across India; Bollywood-inspired shows led by Saroj Khan; food festivals, and fashion shows by Indian designers like Ritu Kumar and Wendell Rodrigues.The organizers of the event have already launched an advertising blitz in New York with numerous hoardings, ads on buses and a giant display on the Nasdaq semi-circle facade in Times Square creating awareness of "Incredible India.""India generally evokes a kind of quizzical interest; but this time things are different," Mittal said. "This is not the regular trade show kind of event that other countries organize. It's a lot more than that."

Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Vayalar Ravi, Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Pawan Chamling, CII President, Shri Sunil Mittal, Secretary MOIA, Shri Nirmal Singh and Indian Ambassador to USA Ronen Sen join the inaugural function of the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, New York 2007

The event is also attended by Sikkim Chief Minister Dr.Pawan Chamling accompanied by Sikkim Commerce & Industry secretary M.G.Kiran,Sikkim Tourism Secretary G.Uphadhaya and Principal Secretary to Sikkim CM R.S.Basnett who would also be attending North East Investment Conference scheduled for September 26.

Dancers from Sikkim would be joining the cultural show of India's unique celebrations.

Taj replica, dance and cultural shows mark 'Incredible India @ 60'

The display of the Taj replica in midtown Manhattan, New York, as part of the Incredible India at 60 celebrations.
A replica of Tajmahal installed in Bryant Park in New York's midtown Manhattan area as part of "Incredible India at 60!" was the centre of attraction.
The exhibit celebrates India at the 60th anniversary of independence. Hundreds of Indian dancers and cultural teams performed on the stage built in front of the structure. These included folk dancers from Sikkim.

Shillong loses sleep over Amit

The idol mania also seems to have reached a feverish pitch in Shillong with local boy Amit Paul set for the final show-down. TIMES NOW correspondent Nina Sangma finds out more.The people of Shillong refuse to sleep as the finals of Indian Idol draws closer to the mass hysteria seems to be getting even more manic with people thronging the streets of Shillong at wee hours of the night rallying for their local boy. Amit Paul surely is the man of the moment and his fans are going all out to support their hero.The story of a boy next door and his sudden rise to fame has given the people of Shillong a new reason to dream. So while Amit waits in anticipation for the results on Sunday the 23rd, his fans are making sure that the votes don't cease to pour in.While the people of Shillong have their hopes pinned on Amit Paul, one thing's for sure, even as we wait for the final results for most people of Meghalaya he is already a winner.
(TimesNow)

Dr.Chamling Will be in Bangkok after NY

Tough ask for CM minus team- Dr. Chamling on Mission US without logistical support



New Delhi, Sept. 21: The Sikkim government is nervous about the tourism promotion-cum-business trip to the United States, apparently with good reason.
Caught between three events — IncredibleIndia@60, a tourism ministry extravaganza in New York from September 23 to 26, the Northeast India Investment Conference in New York on September 25 and an investment conference in Bangkok from October 1 — officials are said to be confused. The two latter events have been inserted into the itinerary by the DoNER ministry.
To begin with, Delhi has denied chief minister trusted lietenants ministers —permission to accompany him on the four-day trip to New York from September 23 to 26.
Moreover, officials fear that the tourism stall hired by the state in the US could embarrass Sikkim. Sources said the government has paid the Indian Tourism Development Corporation hiring charges for the stall, but is now wondering who will man it.
Promotional material, like Khadas and Posters, is being shipped to New York, but there is no one to even unpack the materials or erect the stall.
Sources said Sikkim had applied for political clearance of more people, of many were rejected by the DoNER ministry. When clearance came from the ministry of external affairs, only limited names were approved such as Dr. Chamling , his principal secretary Basnett and representative of Tourism department - sources added.
Some are trying to draw consolation from the fact that states like Tamil Nadu had applied for political clearance of 45 people, but got the green signal for only three. Assam applied for 12 but got clearance of 3.
As for the tourism stall, officials are trying to outsource work in the host country through the Indian embassy, but expect the going to be tough.
Indian embassy officials are going to be extremely hardpressed, as they will have to take care of more than 500 delegates from India. They will also be busy with the UN General Assembly that coincides with the programme.
The tourism ministry extravaganza in the US has Assam, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Madhya Pradesh as major players. Sikkim dancers have already left for New York to participate in the programme.
“We wonder why the DoNER ministry organised this investment event when the programme is already packed. These investment summits should not be clubbed like this,” rued an official.
DoNER minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, however, feels otherwise.
After the US trip, the Northeast delegates will head straight for Bangkok to attend another business summit.
Among those who will try to make a mark in New York and Bangkok will be Sikkim chief minister Dr.Pawan Chamling.

It is time for Incredible India in NewYork,USA

Sikkim Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling to Reach NewYork Tomorrow

NewYork,Sep21: Coming out of the busy Grand Central terminal Wednesday morning, Steve White, a young corporate executive, chanced upon a number of colorful banners on the streetlights while walking down to his office on Lexington Street. Though the pictures were different, but the written text was the same - Incredible India. ''Incredible India!'' he thought and asked to himself: ''What is this?'' The same question he asked to one of his Indian-American colleague at his work place. ''I know, India is now an emerging economic power. But what is incredible India?'' Steve asked. ''I am planning to go to attend one of these events to know more about India,'' he told reporter Wednesday evening on his way back home. ''There are a series of events,'' he said as he checked the website listed on the colorful ads outside the Grand Central terminal.In his early 30s, Steve might or might not go to any of the events being planned by the Indian government beginning September 23, but the thought process he underwent Wednesday surely was reflected that the multi-million publicity blitz launched in Manhattan this past week has generated at least some curiosity among Americans about India and Indians. In the past few days, banners and hoardings of Incredible India campaign has come all across New York City at all important tourists destinations.The same have also been put in and around the United Nations, which is going to be the hub of the international community and the media for the next couple of weeks because of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly that formally started September 18. The general debate involving heads of states would start next week.A public-private joint venture of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and CII, the four-day India@60 beginning September 23 would showcase the best of India among the New Yorkers and the large international community at the UN, which the organizers claim would not only lure them to visit India at least once, but also generate awareness about the changing face of India - an India that is incredible. ''Our objective is two present the best of India,'' Amitabh Kant, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, told in New York, when he was here as part of making preparation for the mega event - the first of its kind in several years by India in the Big Apple. ''We are bringing the best of everything from India to New York, be it folk, classical, musicians, food or the Bollywood,'' he said. While the events are spread out all over New York, Bryant Park, Pier Sixty, Lincoln Center, and South Street Seaport would be hosting most of the events. ''This time the people in New York would be able to witness for themselves the finest Indian classical artists and the finest Indian folk artists,'' Kant said. More than 150 artists are coming from India for the series of cultural shows - folk dance and music, classical dance and music and contemporary dances from India films. The Tourism Ministry in association with the hotel industry is flying some 20 best Indian chefs for the food festival at South Street Seaport. ''It is experiential in character,'' he said. One of the major attractions of the event, organizers expect, is going to be the sand sculpture of Taj Mahal - recently declared as one of the seven wonders of the world - at Port Authority, another place in the city that attracts thousands of people daily. A min-Prabasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is also being organized as part of the India@60 wherein various issues about Indian Diaspora and its contribution in India's development would be discussed at a day-long event on September 23. The National Geographic Channel is hosting a photographic exhibition ''Incredible India by Steve McCurry.'' Nearly half-a-dozen Indian ministers are expected to attend the event including the Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Besides cultural events, a number of panel discussions on various issues related to business, economics, and academics too have been scheduled all the four days.

North East India Conference @ NY On Sep26