Sikkim can play a major role in energy market: SaranGangtok: The first in the Eminent Persons Lecture Series started with a Lecture from Shyam Saran,Prime Minister's Special Envoy and former foreign Secretary to Government of India , who this morning delivered a thought provoking lecture on "Role of Border States in India's Foreign Relations & Regional Economic Cooperation" at Chintan Bhawan ,Gangtok.
The gliterring function commencing one of its kinds Lecture Series that was really a feast for minds of intellectual hunger as the lecture put before eminent audience comprising Chief Minister of Sikkim Dr.Pawan Chamling as its Chief Guest , Dr.Mahendra P.Lama,first Vice Chancellor of Sikkim Central University as moderator of Inter-active session and Who's who of Sikkim Government and Society.
The Keynote presented by the Mr.Saran highlighted Sikkim can play a major role in cross border energy trading with neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh by harnessing its hydel power potential to the full, Shyam Saran, special envoy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said. "By tapping its huge hydro-electricity potential, Sikkim can become a major supplier of power to the neighbouring countries," Saran said in his lecture on the 'Role of border states in India's Foreign Relations and Regional Economic Cooperation' here today. Saran, also a former foreign secretary, however resented the fact that the growth in this sector in the state had not been as fast as desired. Attributing this slackness of growth in the hydel power sector to local people opposing power projects on various accounts, Saran said ecological concerns of the people were alright but they need not fear anything if necessary safeguards were taken by the state government to protect the environment. "Development and ecology are not necessarily contradictory to each other; what we need to ensure is strike a balance between the two," he said. "Being a border state, Sikkim needed better roads, rail and air connectivity to play a key role in developing closer ties with our neighbours," he said adding that foreign policy regarding neighbouring countries had a strong domestic aspect to it. 
Calling Sikkim a "locational asset" as it did not only share borders with as many as three countries (China, Nepal and Bhutan) but was also close to Bangladesh, the former foreign secretary said it should integrate its endeavours in the field of connectivity to what was being done between India, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh on the bilateral level. Saran said in the post globalisation era, the definition of the term 'border' had undergopromoting the country's relations with its neighbours. Describing the opening of Nathula in East Sikkim for border trade with China as a significant development, he said the Centre was planning to develop it finally as a point for carrying out completely normal trade with China. "While having free flow of trade through Nathula is our final objective, we will soon be expanding the list of tradable items through the route in consultation with the Chinese authorities," he said. He said if the Nathula experiment succeeds, the route might also be utilised for the promotion of pilgrimage tourism as it was the shortest route to Kailash-Mansorovar .‘Sikkim can leverage its geographical disadvantage into advantage when better road and rail inter connectivity is established with the neighboring nations.’ Mr. Shyam Saran said.He informed that India being a key player in the South Asian scenario with a significant growth rate and robust economy, the ministry of external affair has been exploring and funding the development of networking infrastructures. .While double laning of NH 31 –A and number of State Highways have already been sanctioned, he said that that Sikkim should press for separate linkage highway with Nepal and Bhutan. He said that the work in this regard has already been initiated in respect of other bordering States. .Stating that dealing with neighbours is not limited to foreign policies, he said that in view of liberal economy and globalization, India has more to offer to its neighbor for which it has stressed in the policy of ‘look India as an opportunity and not threat. India has visualized borders as a connector rather than an impenetrable wall for which beginning has already been initiated, Mr. Saran pointed. .
Chief Minister also spoke on Sikkim as one of the fastest growing state in india and achievements it has made in field of tourism,panchayati raaj,environment,education & IT and similarities of culture and ways of living of people in Sikkim and Tibet Autonomous Region of China as both build peopleto people contact and economic co-operation through border trade which is bound to grow with time . 