Tripura is a landlocked state endowed with vast green forests and abundant natural resources. It shares a long boundary with Bangladesh (856 km) and with neighboring states of Assam and Mizoram. The state was merged with Indian Union on October 15, 1949.

The state is located in the Bio-geographic zone of 9B-North-East Hills and possesses an extremely rich bio-diversity. The local flora and faunal components of Indo-Malayan and Indo-Chinese sub-regions. There are 379-species of trees, 320-shrubs, 581-herbs, 165-climbers, 16-climbing shrubs, 35-fernsa and 45-epiphytes.

The state has 4-districts, 15-subdivisions, 38-development blocks and one autonomous council. The economy is predominantly agrarian. Agriculture generates about 64% of employment in the state.

Tripura’s geographical isolation and poor development in infrastructure have gone a long way to hinder the scope of its economic progress. In terms of infrastructure development, the CMIE index for the year 1992-93 is 63 compared to the All India average of 100.

The disparity in per capita income between Tripura and the nation has grown with time. The per capita income of the state has remained more or less stagnant during the last few years. The annual compound growth rate of NSDP from 1980-81 to 1996-97 has been worked out at 11.07% at current prices and 5.31% at constant prices. In so far as the sectoral growth is concerned, it has been observed that between 1980-81 to 1996-97, agriculture, the major sector in the economy of the state demonstrated a growth rate of 9.92% at current prices and 2.25% at constant prices. Similarly, the manufacturing sector showed a growth of 5.48% at current prices and 3.24% at constant prices.

Agriculture
The states 24.3 percent area is available for agriculture use. The principal crops of the state are Paddy, Sugarcane, Jute, Oilseeds, Cotton. Tea and rubber are the major plantation. Tripura is the second largest producer of rubber in the country. Tea plantation is the major industry of the state. A variety of fruits and cash crops are produced in the state as Pineapple , Oranges, Cashew nuts, Coconut etc. There is enough scope for food processing units and food production industries in the state. Four large projects of irrigation are been implemented by the Government of Tripura.

Minerals
Oil and Natural Gas are the important resources in the state. The major mineral of the state is Natural Gas. Fireclay with white and Grey white color is located at Agartala, Amtali, Mohanpur, Laliacharra, Rajnagar and Bishramganj areas. Silica sand and Quartz of transparent and milky white color are available at Tripura.

Transportation
The network of National Highway roads and State Highway roads are 198 Km and 136 Km respectively. The railway route length in the state is 44.72 Km. The states only Airport is at Agartala (Ushabazar). The state uses the seaport of Chittagong at Bangladesh.

Power
The states generates sufficient powers for her needs. The power generated in 1997-98 was 343.27 mw. Two large projects to generate Thermal Power were implemented by NE Electric power and Government of Tripura.

SAARC Initiative
The volume of trade is expected to increase fast with lowering of traffic and other barriers under SAARC initiative. The declared goal of SAARC nation to make south -east Asia "Free Trade Area" by 2001 will boost the economy of Tripura, as it will put an end to geographical location of Tripura. To re-establish the old rail/road/waterways link with Bangladesh is also under active consideration.