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Reviving hopes of setting up business in West Bengal, S. Gopalakrishnan, Executive Co-Chairman, Infosys Ltd, on Saturday said the IT major would continue its discussion with the State Government.
“We will come back and discuss with the Government how we can take it (forward). The discussion will restart,” Gopalakrishnan told reporters here after the Annual Regional Meeting of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He is the currently the Chairman-Designate of CII.
For the past three years, Infosys has been demanding Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status for its project on a 50-acre plot located at Rajarhat on the eastern fringes of the city. The Trinamool Congress-led Government is, however, not willing to comply on SEZ status. Infosys says its has paid Rs 75 crore to acquire the land.
Alternative benefit
Asked about Infosys’ willingness to accept other tax benefits the State Government may offer in lieu of SEZ status, Gopalakrishnan said: “We are flexible… We are keen to invest here. Now, we have to figure out how it can happen.”
According to him, the company expects to have a meeting with the State Government soon. “(We will meet) based on the availability of the minister and our own people’s availability.”
Infosys also emphasised that it would have to be competitive in Bengal.
“We were the last one to come (to Bengal). By the time we came, the SEZ was not available… We have to be competitive; other companies are already enjoying SEZ benefits. We have to figure out some other means,” Gopalakrishnan said.
Commenting on the growth of IT industry, he added that the opportunities for expansion were fewer as the industry was going through a period of slowing growth.
Even though the proposed unit in Bengal of the country’s third largest IT company was taking longer than expected, Gopalakrishnan said he was still “hopeful” of their chances.
“I am hopeful of the project. Sometimes a breakthrough takes time. That’s why I said we would continue the discussion. This is a case where it is taking time…Every Government, every political party has its policy…Having said that, it is important that they promote industry,” he said.
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