August 30, 2014
After Singapore, now Malaysian investors keen to invest in Bengal
The high commissioner of Malaysia to India,Datuk Naimun Ashakli Bin Mohammad, came down to Nabanna to meet West Bengal ChiefMinister Ms Mamata Banerjee on Friday. The diplomat had brought with him a10-member team to discuss investment opportunities in Bengal.
State Finance Minister Amit Mitra said thatthe Malaysian delegation had members from various sectors of industry and theyheld discussions on improving trade relations. They also tried to find outopportunities in Bengal.
Investment opportunities in various sectors
The Malaysian delegates discussed onimproving tourism sector and how they can be involved in the development of theinfrastructure sector.
The Chief Minister told them that theBengal government planned massive development in the infrastructure sector andthat she wanted to build 3,000 kilometres of state highways throughpublic-private partnership.
Dr Mitra said that the Chief Ministerrequested the Malaysian companies to come forward for building infrastructurein the rural parts of the state. The Malaysian team members also asked aboutopenings in education and housing sectors.
Follow-up meeting in September
Dr Mitra said that another team ofMalaysian industrialists will also visit Nabanna in September. He added that asthe Malaysian companies had expertise in developing infrastructure, they willdiscuss on infrastructure development, particularly in areas in rural Bengaland north Bengal.
The finance minister said that there wouldbe an industry meet called Bengal National Summit during the Biswa Banga Sammelan in the city inJanuary next year.
Interest in mono-rail
He said that a Malaysian company calledScomi, which built mono-rail in Mumbai, had already met the chief minister inSingapore and expressed their interest to invest in Bengal.
The high commissioner said that they werelooking for opportunities to invest in the state particularly in highway andhousing sectors. He also asked the people of Bengal for visiting Malaysia asthere is now direct flight to Kuala Lumpur from Kolkata daily at an affordablecost.
Sanjay Budhia, honorary consul of Malaysiain Kolkata who accompanied the high commissioner, said that he had taken aninitiative so that flights to Malaysia were not withdrawn from Kolkata.
