Siliguri, Jan. 13: After information technology, the thrust will be on biotechnology.

State urban development and municipal affairs minister Asok Bhattacharya today said the state government is planning to set up a biotechnology park here.

Bhattacharya announced this at the concluding-day ceremony of the six-week entrepreneurship development programme for persons specialising in science and technology. The programme was jointly organised by Enterprise Development Institute and Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in North Bengal and sponsored by the department of science and technology.

?Since the agro-based sector has a lot of potential here, biotechnology will be the next big thing to happen in north Bengal,? said Bhattacharya. ?We are looking for a suitable piece of land where we can set up the park.?

Twenty-six youths participated in the entrepreneurship development programme. They were trained on the procedures and steps in setting up small-scale industries. They were also told of the different government schemes they could avail of and how they should go about seeking assistance from the district industries centre.

?Such a training programme for the youths of north Bengal is the need of the hour,? Bhattacharya said. ?The banks have a greater role to play in this regard. They must come forward and help these young entrepreneurs with financial assistance, so that they are able to start small ventures on their own.?