Potential industries in Siliguri have been categorized in three groups namely:
Skill Based
Resource based
Demand based
Skill Based
The district traditionally possesses highly skilled labour who are adept in making various handicraft items, like Carpet, Woolen garments, Jackets, Handloom products, Cane and Bamboo craft, Ornaments, Embroidery work, jute work etc. These industries do a brisk business during the tourist season and their market can be easily expanded, if suitable advertisements and other sales promotion measures with ensured buyback and export arrangements are undertaken in an organized manner.
Resource based
Agriculture and Forestry are the most prospective Sectors in the economy of Darjeeling. Extensive growth of pineapple, orange and other fruits in this district has made the area ideal for establishment of food processing units. A Ginger Oleo—resin Plant and Cardamom Oil Unit would also be a profitable venture. Tea and Timber occupy an important position on economy.
Tea is the oldest and most established industry in Darjeeling. Tea is famous all over the world for its high quality and flavour. It has tremendous export potential. Instant tea is the new product fast emerging in this industry which has tremendous future promise. There is also a trend on the part of the small farmers to bring their land under tea cultivation and sell the tea leaves to the manufacturing units. 12 such new tea gardens up to the area of 20 acres in the process of getting registered in the district. Ancillary industries of tea cultivation for manufacturing such items as tea garden tools and tea-chest plywood may also be established. Timber resource may be used for wood furniture, plywood veneer, sawmill, blackboard, dense jute and wood particleboard etc. Large quantities of bamboo and cane is available in the forests of Darjeeling district which affords an invaluable opportunity for the development of art and craft based on them which have tremendous market in view of huge and rapidly increasing tourist traffic.
Floriculture, horticulture and agro-processing have vast untapped potential. Pineapple, oranges and tomato etc. are produced in sufficiently large quantities justifying setting up of integrated plant for their processing to produce squash, marmalade, sauce, vinegar, juice etc. Various other industries using by –products/ wastes can also be setup e.g. cloth-weaving from pineapple fibre. These industries are not only eco-friendly but also generate substantial employment both in agricultural and industrial sector.
A number of industries based on medicinal plants may come up for producing products like emetine, reserpine, copolanine, staramonium, becognin, ephedrine and camphor oil. Herbal medicines may be produced on large scale in joint sector using the medicinal plants in association with cinchona plantation authorities Huge animal resources may also be exploited for projects like cattle feed and poultry feed, cattle licks, milk sachet, processing of hides and skin etc.
Specific attention should also be given to possibility of starting of rubber plantation on a large-scale as weather is ideally suited for this activity. It is a highly remunerative industry and generates a lot of employment. Setting up of a rubber unit will also encourage small farmers in its surrounding areas to grow rubber trees as they will find ready market for their produce. Sericulture is another area of activity, which can yield heavy benefits both to the entrepreneurs and the farmers.
Demand based
The district of Darjeeling especially its Siliguri Belt, being a focal point in the geo-economic structure of North Bengal also enjoys ideal advantages as regards the setting up of an array of consumer goods industry. Potentialities may be noted for a number of food items like bakery products, confectionery items, biscuits, Sport goods, agarbatti, distilled water, washing soaps, chalk pencils, digital clock and chlorine tablets etc. would enjoy ready markets in North Bengal. These apart, other consumer items like stainless utensils, leather shoes, ready-made garments, tin containers for packing, plastic articles, nuts and bolts, kitchen wares, glass articles and electrical accessories all have tremendous market prospects in the region. Special attention needs to be given to the tourism and tourism based industries like fast-food joints, water sports, ropeways, rock climbing etc. in cooperation with Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council and Forest Department.
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