Mrs Pooja Sharma, Chairperson, Sikkim Film Promotion Board, represented Sikkim, India as a speaker on a panel titled “India as the Most Favorable Shooting Destination” at Media and Entertainment Fortnight at World Expo 2020 at India Pavilion, Dubai, organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry in collaboration with the Ministry of I&B, GOI. Mr Sunny Sodhi served as the event’s moderator, OYO’s Chief Operating Officer and other distinguished dignitaries who served as panellists alongside Mrs Sharma included:

• Mr RK Selvamani, Director & President, Directors’ Association of Tamil Nadu
• Mr AL Vijay, Director recent Film “Thalaivi’
• Mr Manish Mundra, CEO and Founder, Drishyam Films.

Mrs Sharma explained how Sikkim was named the most film-friendly state at the 67th National Film Awards, as well as the key roles and initiatives undertaken by the Sikkim Government. She stated, “We have a visionary and dynamic leader, Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang Golay, who has always prioritised the potential of Cinema and Film Tourism, and it is his idea to constitute Sikkim Film Promotion Board, second, the comprehensive Film policy has been launched, which is lucrative and filmmaker friendly, third, we have Global Film Festival as the calendar event, and fourth, In two years, the government has also taken the initiative to establish its film city, named as the “eco-heritage film village,” the first of its kind in the world.

Finally, we were able to establish FFO and upraise the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as well as the Ministry of Tourism, and we will continue to work towards making Sikkim the most desirable shooting destination in India.’