The Hindu Business Line : 2 Singapore cos keen on Bengal infrastructure projects

Ms. Tan Ching Yee, CEO, Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, along with Mr. Sanjiv Goenka, Vice-Chairman, RPG Enterprises Ltd, and Dr. Sabyasachi Sen, West Bengal Principal Secretary, Commerce and Industry, during an interaction in Kolkata on Wednesday. -- Parth Sanyal

Kolkata July 14

TWO Singapore urban infrastructure development companies - Subana and Semb Corp - are likely to participate in some of the infrastructure projects in Bengal, through the joint venture route.

Talking to newspersons here today at the sidelines of a luncheon interaction organised by CII, Eastern Region, here with a 29-member bureaucrats' team from Singapore, Dr Sabyasachi Sen, Principal Secretary, Department of Commerce & Industry, said representatives of the two Singapore companies have already made two visits to Bengal for discussion on the urban infrastructure (mainly road) projects.

The companies are already working on infrastructure projects in Andhra Pradesh. The likely JV projects may be in tie-up with the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC).

The bureaucrats' team, representing many of the public utilities in the Island State, held detailed discussions with the Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

Ms Tan Ching Yee, CEO, Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) of Singapore, in her address, said the purpose of the team's visit was to learn more about the opportunities for participation in joint urban infrastructure projects and services such as healthcare.

Citing the large strides taken by Singapore in the area of e-governance, she said the proposed Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between India and Singapore was expected to push forward bilateral trade in a big way.

She said the process has been slowed down because of the change in government in Delhi. Singapore already has FTAs with countries such as the US, Australia and Japan.

Describing West Bengal as a food-secure State now, Dr Sen said the growth was now private sector driven, with the State Domestic Product growth clocking a healthy 7 per cent annually.

On the investment scenario in the State, he said projects worth $ 450 million were being implemented annually. Welcoming the Singapore team, Mr Sanjiv Goenka, past president, CII and Vice-Chairman, RPG Enterprises, said the newly set up Singapore-India Partnership Foundation was expected to provide the necessary impetus to greater economic cooperation between the two countries.

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