Gangtok, Oct. 23: With an eye on the Nathu-la trade route and in a bid to promote business in Sikkim, the five-day East Himalaya Exposition organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) will begin at the Guards Ground at Tathangchen here tomorrow.

The expo will be opened by state commerce and industries minister R.B. Subba.

“Sikkim is a fast-moving state as far as growth and progress both in development activities and business is concerned and we are here to further promote and accelerate this growth,” Dipten Basu, the regional manager (east) of ITPO, told The Telegraph.

He said the expo was part of the promotional drive being carried out all over the country by ITPO. It had organised similar meets in 1998 and 2000.

This year, ITPO’s attraction is the Nathu-la trade route and it is aimed at promoting export goods. “There have been certain developments in Sikkim like the reopening of the Nathu-la trade route. Despite the trade initially being of small volume, this is likely to grow. Traders take advantage of this trade fair,” Basu added.

Some 40 participants from all over the country including individual traders and corporations will be participating in the five-day fair. The items to be displayed include agro produce, machinery, tools, food items, consumables, handicrafts and handloom. Some of those who have confirmed their participation include Tea Board, Coffee Board, Coir Board, APIDA, National Horticulture Board and Purvasha. The Silk Board and other corporate bodies from Bengal are also slated to participate in the expo. There are also participants from Sikkim like Sikkim Tourism and the Directorate of Handlooms and Handicrafts.

Basu said goods, products and services not found in these part will be promoted and highlighted through this exposition. Technology, retailing and promotion of the goods and services will also be available.

ITPO, an organisation of the Indian government, manages exhibitions at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi throughout the year. They have also regional centres all over the country. For the Northeast, an exposition centre is coming up and will be inaugurated soon, Basu said.

President of the Sikkim chamber of commerce S.K. Sarda recently told The Telegraph that the exhibition will be an unique endeavour by the ITPO to provide an exclusive platform for Sikkim and the Northeast. It is expected to open up new vistas in the area of trade, commerce and industry and will showcase the vast export potential of the region, he added.

“ITPO should be complimented since they are getting participants from the rest of the country particularly from sectors which are relevant to Sikkim from the point of industrial and economic development of the state. The presence of such participants will strengthen the opportunity of technology transfer and upgrade of knowledge of packaging of the products, design and marketing,” he said.