Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Friday, Sep 10, 2004
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Friday, Sep 10, 2004 |
||
|
|
||
|
Industry & Economy
-
Foreign Trade Bengal keen to reap benefits from pact with Thailand Our Bureau
Kolkata , Sept. 9 WEST Bengal is keen on tapping part of the fallout of the India-Thailand Free Trade Agreement, which has just been set in motion. The Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, stated this while inaugurating the India International Mega Trade Fair - 2004 on Thursday. He said: "We are identifying the sectors that can reap the maximum benefit of the Indo-Thai pact. Considering the locational advantage of the State, we expect to grab a substantial share of the cross-border trade between both the countries." Referring to the initiative taken by the NDA Government at the Centre on the opening of the Nathula Pass for cross-border trade with China, Mr Bhattacharjee said that the State was pursuing the issue and was gearing up to set up infrastructure support in a joint venture with the Sikkim Government. "We are in discussions with Sikkim for creating adequate infrastructure, especially at Siliguri, with the objective of making Nathula a viable trading route." Both States are busy identifying items that could be traded through this route. On the investment scenario in the State, the Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over the growth of the IT industry. "Last year, the IT sector in Bengal grew by over 120 per cent against a national average of 35 per cent," he said, adding that there was growing response from global investors to invest in the IT sector in the State. "In fact, the biggest hurdle I am now facing is in meeting the demand for land from the IT sector," Mr Bhattacharjee said, referring to the recent requirements of investors like HSBC, Satyam, Reliance Infotech, GE and others.
More Stories on : Foreign Trade | Other States
Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page
|
Stories in this Section |
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | The Hindu Images | Home |
Copyright © 2004, The
Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu Business Line
|