Chinese companies have invested between $200 million and $300 million across the five eastern states and primarily in West Bengal, according to Ma Zhanwu, Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kolkata.
At least 30 companies operate in the region, of these 20-odd are in West Bengal.
According to him, China sees investment opportunities in these five states, namely, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Bihar. But with more foreign investments to come in, there is a need to create “success stories”.
He pointed out that reports where a Thai feed company had to shut shop because of theft of machines and forcible addition of unemployable workforce under political pressure did not bode well for the region.
“Examples of foreign investors allowed to succeed and make money will be a powerful catalyst for foreign investment. If they (foreign investors) see others succeed in eastern India, they will surely be encouraged to come,” Zhanwu said at the release of a Report on Investment Environment in Eastern India by the Observer Research Foundation Kolkata Chapter. The Chinese consulate sponsored the report.
In fact, the Consul-General further urged the state governments to have “pro-business attitude and policies, apart from working on ease of doing business across these states".
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