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Gangtok, August 28: Observing that Sikkim has great potential to export various goods ranging from cash crops to handicrafts, a public sector bank official today advised the state government to ensure value addition to these products for them to fetch international market and accruing revenues.

The Himalayan State grows 90 per cent of cardamom of the country, a substantial quantity of ginger, and horticulture produces like orchid flowers with all these produces being in demands in foreign countries, the EXIM Bank Chairman TC Venkat
Subramanian said at a seminar here.

Besides, the state has created its own niche in the domestic market as the producer of various handicraft products like the carpets, woolen garments, toys and wooden items, he said, adding these products have good demands in foreign countries which the state government can tap by way of export to earn substantial revenue.

The EXIM Bank official said that the state government should ensure value addition to these products by obtaining geographical identification (GI) certificate for them to maintain their distinct identity for the purpose of export.

The bank will give 50 per cent assistance to the state government towards the expenses on GI certification on various home grown products of Sikkim, Subramanian said, adding that it will also provide other assistance to the state to market the local products internationally.

The state government should take up measures for improvement of the quality of various produces earmarked for export by tying up with the Indian Council of Agriculture
Research (ICAR) for identificaton of various crops suitable for the local climate and supply of high quality seeds for various crops.
Besides, there should be an independent nodal agency like the Export Promotion and Facilitation department to which the EXIM Bank can engage in regular interaction for promotion of export of goods from Sikkim, Subramanian said.

The EXIM Bank official also outlined the potential of micro, small and medium enterprises in Sikkim in view of the apparent infrastructure-related difficulties and said that the state government should tap various central schemes for setting up smaller industries in the state.

The Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, in his keynote address, said that the state government required technological know how to harness its natural resources and cash crops in view of their export potential.
He also urged the public and private sector industries to set up smaller industries in the state and said that his government has had a consistent policy to encourage the participation of the industrial houses for the industrialisation and economic development of the state.