Economy
Siliguri is described as the gateway to the North East of India, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. The strategic location of the city makes it a base for essential supplies to the above regions and it has gradually developed as a profitable centre for a variety of businesses with many national companies and organisations setting up their offices here. The Hong Kong market near Khudirampally is a chief hub for buying low-cost Chinese goods and imported goods, nearby Seth Srilal Market, Sevoke Road and Hill Cart Road is a prominent place to buy daily use goods, and is very popular among people from nearby areas. The four 'T's - Tea, Timber, Tourism and Transport - are the main businesses of Siliguri. Siliguri is the headquarters of Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of North Bengal.
Bagdogra airport market is one of the shopping hubs in Siliguri. Another important market is at Matigara hut where people from Hills and plains come for shopping. In recent times, the city has seen the establishment of a number of shopping malls and multiplexes to cater to the growing needs of the populace. The organised retail sector has created a large number of jobs in the region. The presence of Indian army, Border Security Force (BSF), CRPF, SSB and the Assam Rifles around the city have contributed to the growth of the local economy.
Being a tourist destination, the hospitality sector and tourism sector constitutes an important part of Siliguri's economy. Siliguri has a number of hotels and guest houses and the hospitality sector has seen good growth. Siliguri also has branches of almost all banks.
The latest development is the development of malls like COSMOS and ORBIT. The city recently also witnessed the arrival of its first set of multiplexes, CINEMAX in early Dec'09 and INOX at ORBIT on Christmas of 2009 and City Centre Mall in 2011.
The road network of Siliguri is used for commerce with neighbouring hill state of Sikkim and with Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. The trade route between India and Tibet through Nathu La and Jelep La passes through Siliguri.
In order to develop the city in a planned manner and to make arrangement for the exploding population of the city, new townships of Uttarayon. The Kanchanjunga Integrated park and Shushruta Nagar-Kawakhali township have been proposed to be built around the fringes of Siliguri.
Siliguri is one of the three satellite IT hubs and townships that the Government of West Bengal is developing. Some leading IT companies have shown interest and some of them have already started operating. Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority has taken an initiative to develop Siliguri into an IT/ITES hub. A software technology park is under construction which will be completed by December 2012.
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