The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) plans to cultivate Siliguri as a logistics hub for northeast India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. In a recent business conclave called ‘Logi Connect 2022’ hosted by the trade body, it explored ways on how the strategically-located Siliguri corridor and its surroundings could be developed as such a hub.
CII wants to find out an appropriate way to do that, according to Debashish Dutta, chairman of its eastern region’s sub-committee on logistics, warehousing and multi-modal transport (MMT).
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) plans to cultivate Siliguri as a logistics hub for northeast India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. In a recent business conclave called ‘Logi Connect 2022’ hosted by the trade body, it explored ways on how the strategically-located Siliguri corridor and its surroundings could be developed as such a hub.
“The chief minister is keen to see industrial investments in north Bengal and hubs coming up in different districts. To draw investments, we need to develop Siliguri as a logistic hub as it would facilitate movement of goods to other states and neighbouring countries. That is why this conclave has been planned,” Dutta was quoted as saying by media reports from West Bengal.
Infrastructure on the Indian side of the border like Panitanki (connecting Nepal), Changrabandha (connecting Bangladesh) and Jaigaon (connecting Phuentsholing and Pasakha in Bhutan) are inadequate.
Nepal’s consulate general in Calcutta Eshor Raj Poudel told the event there is a need to develop infrastructure for logistics in and around Siliguri.
“We use Siliguri to trade with Bangladesh. It is an important area. Our country has been working for hassle-free and seamless trans-shipment of goods and we look forward to see that this region emerges as such a hub,” he added.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
