The Hindu Business Line : `Bengal has potential to attract Rs 1 lakh cr investment'

BLUEPRINT FOR BENGAL: Mr Venugopal N. Dhoot (left), President, Assocham, and Mr D.S. Rawat, Secretary General, at a press conference in Kolkata on Sunday. — A. Roy Chowdhury

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Kolkata Feb. 18 The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) is on the verge of finalising a blueprint for investment opportunities to the tune of Rs 1 lakh crore into West Bengal by 2010, in sectors such as chemicals, petrochemicals, engineering, automobiles, food-processing and IT and ITES.

The targeted investment mobilisation is Rs 1 lakh crore, and some 15 top industrial houses will be approached to examine fresh investment proposals. The chamber also plans to leverage its long-standing ties with MNCs across the globe to look at West Bengal for future investments. A committee to carry out this task has already been appointed.

Some three lakh direct and indirect jobs are expected to be created in the process. The blueprint will also seek that the West Bengal administration encourage panchayats in the development of local agro-processing industries along the lines of sugar co-operatives in Maharashtra.

The report is expected to be submitted to the Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, shortly.

Briefing newspersons here today on the blueprint and other burning issues such as SEZs and land acquisition for industry, Mr Venugopal N. Dhoot, the new president of Assocham (in his first interaction with the press after assuming charge), said the chamber has already created a `Look East Development Council' for the purpose, under the chairmanship of Mr B.G. Bangur, Chairman of Shree Cement Ltd.

He said the council'sreport, which will include suggestions of many other organisations, including banks and consultancy organistions, is expected to take some two months for completion. It will first be submitted to the Prime Minister and then to the North-East Council for appropriate actions. Special focus was being was being laid on the North Eastern States, including North Bengal, he added. Mr Dhoot is expected to call on the Chief Minister on Monday for discussions.

He said the above-mentioned areas have been identified for attracting domestic and MNC investments in West Bengal. In order to fructify the same, Assocham plans to organise a mega `West Bengal Invest Mart' conference in September this year (in Kolkata) to convince prospective investors that Bengal today offered the best of investment opportunities.