Sikkim is a beautiful State situated in the Eastern Himalayan stretch of the Indian sub-continent. It lies between 27 degree 00' 46" to 28 degree 07' 48" North latitude and 88 degree 00' 58" to 88 degree 55' 25" East longitude. It has a total land of 7,096 sq km which is 0.22% of the total area of the country. It is stretched over 112 km from North to South and 64 km from East to West. It is bounded by vast stretches of Tibetan Plateaux in the North; the Chumbi Valley of Tibet and the Kingdom of Bhutan in the East; the Kingdom of Nepal in the West; and Darjeeling (West Bengal) in the South.
The world's third highest mountain, Mt. Kanchenjunga, dominates this tiny Himalayan State with its beauty and majesty. The State is one of the 18 biodiversity hotspots in the world. It includes nearly one third of the total species of angiosperm found in the country; around 4,000 species of flowering plants; 300 species of ferns and allies; 144 species of mammals; 500 to 600 species of birds and so on. Rare Blue Sheep, Tibetan Mastiff, Yaks and Red Pandas are also found here. Such natural beauty along with ideal climatic condition of the State augurs well for the tourism industry. The green image of the State has made it an attractive investment destination.
Ethically, Sikkim has mainly three groups of people, namely, Nepalis, Bhutias and Lepchas. They are mainly engaged in different economic activities, prominent among which are tourism, horticulture, agriculture, etc. The other advantageous features of Sikkim are:-
- Supportive and flexible administrative set up;
- Skilled and educated labour force;
- Efficient transportation and communication network;
- Sound water and power supply;
- Investor friendly environment;
- Rich varieties of flora, fauna and various horticultural produce;
- Presence of several medicinal herbs; etc.
Given these opportunities, the Government of Sikkim has made several efforts for attracting investment into the various sectors of the State. The investors can set up various industrial units by optimally utilising the numerous resources as well as the incentives and schemes available in the State.
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