Gangtok 17th February: His
Excellency the Governor of Sikkim Shri Balmiki Prasad Singh formally inaugurated
the 2nd International Flower Show 2013 today at Saramsa Garden, East
Sikkim today. His Excellency the Governor along with the Chief Minister and
other delegates visited the stalls and the garden which was beautifully
decorated with various seasonal flowers after inaugurating the show.
The International Flower Show organized by
the State Government every fifth year, is an endeavor of the state government to
show case floriculture along with the tourism potential of the state. The IFS
2013 has a participation of 9 countries with 12 international stalls, 16 foreign
delegates, 7 state governments, 31 private players totaling to 82 stall
participating in it with expected visitors of around 2 lacs. The mega event will
also include conferences, workshops, buyers and sellers meet, exhibition
etc.
During his inaugural address the Governor
paid rich tributes to the ancestors who he said played a major role in
conserving the flora and fauna of the land along with water by way of
worshipping the mother nature. In this context he urged the society that this
natural wealth of the state should be conserved. He also expressed his
satisfaction and placed on record about the various steps taken by the state
government for preserving the rich bio-diversity of the state. The Government of
India has formulated a policy for the encouragement of NE state towards
horticulture sector which shall be the main thrust during the 12th
five year plan. The state Government of Sikkim has taken this initiative much
before the central government by way of encouraging the growers and farmers and
providing infrastructural support and trainings. Organizing such mega event in
the state will provide commercial support to the local farmers by giving them an
exposure of the outside world in this sector, he added. He further
added that the involvement of youths of the state in this sector the state would
achieve the target of commercialization of floriculture sector. He further hoped
that the National Orchid Research Centre at Pakyong will provide support to the
state government in its endeavor.
Concluding his address the Governor remarked
that IFS 2008 had tried to put Sikkim on the floral map of the world and the
2nd IFS 2013 would formally put Sikkim on the floral map of the
world.
The Hon’ble Chief Minister during his address
talked about the various steps undertaken by the state government towards the
protection and conservation of the rich bio-diversity of the state. This
International Flower Show is an attempt to showcase our inherent strengths to
attract outside investors mainly for floriculture and tourism. This event will
provide a common platform to all floriculture stakeholders for experience
sharing, the Chief Minister added.
The Minister for HRDD Mr. NK Pradhan read out
the message of the Union Home Minister Shri Sushil K Shinde in which he had
congratulated and complimented the state government for hoisting such a mega
event. Shri Shinde who was scheduled to inaugurate the event could not make it
due to extreme inclement weather.
The
Minister Mr. D.N.Thakarpa also gave a brief review on the IFS 2013.
Earlier, the Secretary, Agriculture /
Horticulture Shri Shanta K Pradhan gave his welcome address during which he gave
a brief account of the IFS 2013
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