West Bengal aims to get a piece of floriculture pie. The state will set up a flower export zone to grab the $50 billion global floriculture market.

The UPA government is also urged to reduce air freight on export of cut, loose and dried flowers and to ensure re-introduction of KLM flights between Kolkata and Amsterdam.With the objective of doubling horticulture and floriculture productions from 150 million tones to 300 million tones by 2011-12, the Finance minister Mr. Chidambaram has proposed to launch a National Horticulture Mission.

The state has identified two ideal locations for setting up this special economic zone for flower one at Nadia and the other at Midnapore. The state already exports 14,000 flowers every week. The export basket contains traditional flowers like Marigold, Jasmine, Chrysanthemum, China Aster and Tube-rose and contemporary flowers like Rose, Gladiolus, Carnation and Orchids.

Source: www.economictimes.com