Industry-related problems to be solved within 60 days: Dr Amit Mitra

Industry-related problems to be solved within 60 days: Dr Amit Mitra

Posted on June 15, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

West Bengal Finance and Industry Minister Dr Amit Mitra presided over the first ever meeting of the South Bengal Industrial Core Committee at Asansol on Saturday, 14 June. Held at the ICAI Bhavan in Asansol, the meeting discussed more than 70 problems related to industry.

During the meeting, Dr Mitra, solved 95% of the problems related to land, license, water, power and pollution on the spot. The Minister urged the District Magistrates of the nine South Bengal districts present at the meet that all problems regarding industry must be solved within 15 to 60 days.

The Finance and Industry Minister said that the transparency in industry related works is better than any other country in the world, especially China. The State Government is now moving at a fast pace to set up the infrastructure of the Kharagpur and Panagarh industrial parks.

Singapore looking for more opportunities to invest in Bengal

Posted on June 15, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

GIC Singapore, the sovereign wealth fund of the island nation, is trying to scout for more opportunities in West Bengal.

“After investing USD 32.5 million in Kolkata Riverside, a 262-acre township, the fund is looking for more opportunities here,” Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra said.

The GIC-invested PE fund, sponsored by HDFC Property and domiciled in Singapore, had signed a USD 32.5 million (Rs 200 crore) agreement with Hiland Group during the Bengal Global Business Summit in January this year for Kolkata Riverside development.

Dr Mitra said GIC, owner of one of the world’s largest funds, was very enthusiastic about development of the state and is keen to participate more actively. “They have indicated that they were negotiating with a few others for further investment,” he said.

Bengal products on China shelves

Posted on June 12, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Bengal products will now be found in Chinese markets -courtesy an MoU between Biswa Bangla Corporation and Haohong Logistics Corporation, a unit of the billion Yuan Haohong Group.

Two way trade

Biswa Bangla Corporation, developed by the Mamata Banerjee government, will have a permanent stall at Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, to showcase Bengal products.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Yunnan governor Chen Hao, union minister of state for external affairs and Bengal finance and industries minister Amit Mitra. The Haohong Group has allotted a 100 sq m area in its industrial park.

Dr Mitra said: “Bengal handicrafts will now be available in China. This is a major step.”

Boost to tourism

The West Bengal tourism department also expects better inflow of Chinese tourists to Bengal following an MoU with the Yunnan provincial tourism corporation. The agreement was signed after chairman of West Bengal chapter, Indian Tour Operators Association, Debajit Dutta made a presentation on Bengal tourism.

Stronger ties between sister cities

Another MOU was signed between MSME Technology Centre and Kunming SME financial transaction service, which will act as the backbone for SME infrastructure in Bengal, said state MSME secretary Rajiva Sinha.

Earlier Kunming governor expressed interest in setting up an industrial park in Bengal which he feels should strengthen relationship with Yunnan.

Dr Mitra later said that the Yunnan governor has agreed to send an investors’ delegation to the next Bengal business summit. Mitra urged Yunnan investors to invest in the upcoming Bengal townships, one of the pet projects of chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

“We are building 22 smart cities on private-public partnership. I would request Chinese companies to invest here. Yunnan is very strong in food processing and cold storage infrastructure. We would require investment in these sectors as well,” he added.

Amit Mitra leads Team Bengal at China

Posted on June 11, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

State finance and industries minister Amit Mitra is in China today to attract investment for Bengal as well as strengthen the much talked about Kolkata-Kunming connectivity.

Dr Mitra is accompanied by an Indian Chamber of Commerce delegation. Dr Mitra said that India will be the partner country of the 3rd China South Asia Expo in Kunming, and Bengal will be the focus state.

Bengal had a 450 sq m stall at the venue with 28 stalls displaying the potential of Bengal. On Friday, Dr Mitra will address the joint opening ceremony of the expo. “There will be a special cultural programme from Bengal,” he added.

There will be business-to-business meetings with Chinese counterparts as well.

Projects worth Rs 91000 Cr started in Bengal in 2015: Amit Mitra

Posted on June 10, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Rejecting the opposition’s allegations of deteriorating and slow industrial growth in the state, West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra Monday said projects worth Rs 91,230 crore have been started in the four months of 2015.

Of the total projects initiated, Rs 32,000 crore is in power sector and Rs 47,000 crore in manufacturing and transport, Mitra informed the Assembly during his reply for approval of grants for Commerce and Industry department.

The projects had started within four months of the Global Bengal Summit where MoUs worth Rs 2.34 lakh crore were signed, he added.

Informing the House on the ongoing previously announced projects, he said 435 industrial projects had been either implemented or under implementation.

He added that 224 investment proposals are in the pipeline, entailing an investment of Rs 1.14 lakh crore.

Opposition members of the House had leveled allegations of slow industrial progress under the current government, contradicting industrial output data besides charging the government of being a mute spectator to closing of jute mills and tea gardens, among others.

Major boost to leather industry in Bengal

Posted on June 9, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

International shoe brands Clarks, Hush Puppies and Caterpillar will soon be manufactured in Bengal with Farida Group from Chennai, the country’s largest footwear company, setting up a unit at Gosaipur in South Dinajpur, which will churn out 3,000 pairs of branded shoes a day.

Major boost to leather industry

Announcing the entry of three leather majors into Bengal, State Finance Minister Amit Mitra pitched it as a major boost to the leather industry here.

Dr Mitra also assured industry members present at the meeting with him that he would look into the issue of VAT refund on exported leather.

Employment generation

Leather Training Institute, run by Indian Leather Products Association (ILPA) and the state technical education department, are also set to sign a memorandum of understanding to train 5,000 people over the next year and a half. Till now, LTI had trained only 300 people. Following the training, the men will be absorbed in leather units.

Investments pouring in

Farida Group chairman Rafeeque Ahmed said that the unit would begin commercial production by the end of the year. When the unit begins full-fledged operation, it will have a 3,000-strong, all-women workforce.

Two other shoe majors—UP-based Super House and Allana Sons from Mumbai—are also in the process of finalizing investment in the state.

Hinduja praises WB CM’s industry initiatives

Posted on June 9, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Gopichand Hinduja has heaped praise on West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee for her determination to attract industry in Bengal.

In an interview to a popular daily, he said WB CM “is trying hard to attract industry and investment to her state.”

“She is a good leader and has a clean image. I am certain she will become Chief Minister again after this term ends. Her intentions are clear – she wants to attract industry into Bengal,” he added.

Hinduja, who has a strong foothold in Bengal with the presence of Ashok Leyland, Hinduja Leyland finance and IndusInd Bank, had encouraging words for finance minister Dr Amit Mitra as well. “The finance minister knows how reforms can benefit the state,” he said.

“Mamata Banerjee is one of India’s prominent political leaders. Prime Minister David Cameron must meet her,” he added.

In fact, WB CM could become the first high level politician from India to meet David Cameron after his recent reelection as Britain’s PM.

WB CM will be in UK from July 26-30. This will be her second foreign visit as the chief minister of Bengal.

Amit Mitra to lead Team Bengal at China expo

Posted on June 3, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

State Finance, Industries and Commerce Minister Dr Amit Mitra will lead a delegation to the third China South Asia Business Forum and Expo to be held between June 11 and 16 at Kunming, China to showcase West Bengal as an investment-friendly state.

Promoting Bengal

The government would participate in the expo in a big way to showcase Bengal. The governor of Yunnan had earlier invited the West Bengal government officials to showcase the state in China.

The government will put up 28 stalls in the expo focusing on industry , tourism and food processing.

Dr Mitra will lead the state delegation along with senior officials of food processing, industries, tourism and micro, small and medium enterprises departments. WBIDC and industry representatives will also accompany him.

Bilateral ties

The state government is already working on a project to restore the old Chinatown in Tiretta Bazaar through preservation of the historic character of the place, by revitalizing the area into a street food hub and introducing a night market that could attract tourists from China to come and have a look at.

MoUs will also be signed between tour operators of Kunming and West Bengal that will help them exchange familiarization visits.

Already, the West Bengal Incentive Scheme 2015 has come into effect in consultation with travel and tour operators’ associations and industry stakeholders. Apart from usual incentives, provisions for granting tourism promotion assistance at the rate of 75% of VAT for five years and entitlement of additional floor area ratio for mega tourism units have come as a big boost to investment in the tourism sector.

Sister cities

Kolkata and Kunming are now dubbed as sister cities and there is already a direct flight between the two cities with flight timing of just over two hours. The frequency can also be raised.

This year, West Bengal tourism will be repositioned in the international and domestic tour and travel sector with a new brand logo. Having a state delegation led by the finance minister and senior bureaucrats and industrialists will only further help in showcasing the state in this sector.

WB CM keen on stringent act to prevent chit fund malpractices

Posted on May 30, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee on Friday said that her government was keen on framing a stringent act to prevent malpractices by chit fund companies and protect interests of the people in the state.

In her suo motu reply during Question Hour, the Chief Minister said that the West Bengal Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments Bill, 2013, which was passed in the House by her government had received assent from President Pranab Mukherjee.

She, however, said that her government was not happy with a communication received through Raj Bhavan, referring to a condition for its implementation enshrined in a similar act in Tamil Nadu.

The provision in the anti-chit fund Act in Tamil Nadu said the offenders in such cases could be released on bail after paying fines, which, Banerjee said, would never be allowed in West Bengal.

The state government brought this Bill to enact a stringent legislation and thus strong punishment like life imprisonment was included in the bill.

The CM said that the state government had written to the Centre urging that at least the provisions of strong punishment, which was in the bill, should be restored, otherwise offenders in such financial crimes would get an escape route. She said that the state government was waiting for the reply from the Centre.

The Chief Minister also noted that if required, the state government was even ready to bring an ordinance on the issue in consultation with the Opposition in the House.

Finance Minister Amit Mitra elaborated the process, in the House, under which the bill had been passed till it received the President’s assent.

The next course of action on the Bill would be finalised following a discussion in the Business Advisory Committee meeting.

Bengal allots land for proposed AIIMS at Kalyani

Posted on May 27, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

The West Bengal Cabinet on Tuesday cleared 180 acres of land for the proposed AIIMS-like super- speciality hospital at Kalyani in Nadia district.

Speaking about the Cabinet decision, State’s Finance and Industry Minister Dr Amit Mitra said the entire 180 acres of land lay with the State Government under the Animal Resources Development Department.

“We have cleared the entire land valued at Rs 57 crore for the proposed AIIMS-like super-speciality hospital at Kalyani,” Dr Mitra said. “Since the land is in hand, no problem is now left for this project. Now the issue is with the Centre for implementation of the project,” he said.

The State has also chosen Kalyani as a potential area for the development of a satellite township and several plots of land there have been identified for both residential and commercial purposes. The CM has named the Kalyani theme township Samriddhi. The Government will showcase the proposed six theme township projects during the Chief Minister’s London visit slated July.