The Government of Sikkim has been making efforts to set up a conducive business climate in order to attract investors into the State. The most important step in this direction is the formulation of policies for the various sectors of the economy. These policies unveil a roadmap for the overall development of the State by removing the hurdles in the investment process. All these policy documents also envisage incentives and schemes for the investors.

The major being, the Industrial policy of Sikkim, which has been formulated for ensuring speedy industrial development and generating adequate employment opportunities in the State. The objectives of the policy are to:-

• Create an atmosphere conducive to industrial growth taking into consideration the available natural resources;



• Maintain the 'Green State' image of the State, while promoting industrial activities;



• Enrich the agricultural sector through the establishment of appropriate linkage between agriculture and agro-based industries;



• Ensure balanced regional development through promotion of khadi, village, cottage, tiny, small and ancillary industries;



• Promote traditional handloom, handicrafts and artisan sector by providing raw materials and technical inputs;



• Develop tourism as an industry;



• Develop Sikkim as a major centre for manufacturing and marketing of tea;



• Facilitate rapid development of the basic infrastructural facilities;



• Encourage joint ventures between local entrepreneurs and industrialists from outside the State for setting up of industries;



• Develop human resource through appropriate skill and entrepreneurship development programmes;



• Protect and promote interests of the local people by defining norms for their employment in the industrial units;



• Simplify procedures with a view to attract investors.

The Information Technology (IT) Policy has also been evolved by the Government of Sikkim, in order to put IT industry on a firm footing in the State. It aims at harnessing the benefits of IT for the welfare of the State by providing appropriate services to the citizens; ensuring greater accountability and promoting IT investments into the State. The objectives of the policy are:-

• Empowering citizens and making their life easier through e-governance;



• Facilitating income and employment generation in the State;



• Improving productivity in the Government departments through computerization;



• Making Sikkim a totally computer literate State;



• Reducing the digital divide in the State;



• Using IT to map the resources of the State.

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