The Hindu Business Line : Bengal woos Japanese cos

The prospects of Japanese investments in West Bengal infrastructure projects seem to have brightened now with the recent visit of a West Bengal team, led by the State Commerce & Industries Minister, Mr Nirupam Sen, to Japan. The team members, in Japan at the invitation of the Japanese Government, also visited Singapore on their way back.

Admitting that better infrastructure would facilitate faster investment in the State, Mr Nirupam Sen told newspersons here on Friday that Japanese companies were keen to set up manufacturing projects in India, including West Bengal.

The minister said the State government was also planning to set up a dedicated industrial park for Japanese SMEs. Just back from a seven-day visit to Japan and Singapore as head of the three-member WBIDC team, he said extensive talks were held with senior government representatives.

He said fruitful talks were also held with PSA International Pvt Ltd and Changi Airport International, and Hyflux of Singapore for participation in possible infrastructure projects in the State, including a water desalination project in Haldia. Pointing out that a new airport for the State was now under study, the minister a positive response had already been received from Changi Airport International for preliminary talks on project participation.

Mr Sen said talks were also held with Mr Goh Chok Tong, now Senior Minister and former Prime Minister of Singapore (who has visited Kolkata), Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, and Mr S. Iswaran, Minister of State for Trade and Industry.

Pointing out that broad discussions were held with high government officials and heads of PSUs and leaders of industries in both Japan and Singapore, Mr Sen said many future Bengal infrastructure projects, for which feasibility studies have already been commissioned, figured in the talks.

Referring to mega transport infrastructure projects such as the East-West Metro Rail Corridor and a Mass Rapid Transit system for Kolkata city, he said the Government of Japan was willing to assist in construction of such facilities under the ODA (Overseas Development Assistance) programme.

The minister said detailed talks were also held with representatives of agencies under the Government of Japan such as JBIC, JETRO and JICA. Japanese project aid is traditionally routed through the Central Government.

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