Asia House, UK praises WB CM in a private briefing

Asia House, UK praises WB CM in a private briefing

Posted on July 29, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee will address the Asia House corporate members on July 29 at the organization’s head quarters at 63, New Cavendish Street.

On its website, the Asia House published a private briefing regarding the address by the West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee to be held on July 29.

Asia House is a Pan-Asian organization based in UK, which aims to build dynamic links between the diverse communities of Europe and Asia.

The Private Briefing by the Asia House, London, UK:

“West Bengal is the sixth largest economy in India. Strategically located, bordering Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, with proximity to Myanmar, the state of West Bengal is a key gateway to Southeast Asian markets. It has abundant natural resources and a growing IT sector. However, it lags behind in infrastructure development.

Mamata Banerjee, the current and 8th Chief Minister of West Bengal, will brief Asia House corporate members on West Bengal’s economic prospects and the steps the government of West Bengal is taking to make the state a more attractive investment destination.

West Bengal has historically been a highly indebted state owing to poor tax collection and large amounts of state revenues being used to pay back interest on debt. Under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, the state government is making efforts to encourage higher revenue mobilisation and enhance capital expenditure. The state is undergoing a major deregulation drive to make doing business in the state easier, faster and more transparent. Upgrading social infrastructure is running parallel to strengthening industrial infrastructure. Attractive incentive packages and regulations have also been introduced to attract investment.

Banerjee created history in the state with a sweeping victory in the 2011 Legislative Assembly Elections of West Bengal that uprooted the 34-year-long Left Front government led by the Communist Party of India. This marked the end of the longest ruling democratically elected Communist party in the world.

In May 2013 she was voted by the largest anti-corruption coalition of India, India Against Corruption, as the most honest politician in India. Time magazine in 2012 named her as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.

Mamata Banerjee is the current Chief Minister of West Bengal and the first woman to hold the office. She also holds the record of being the first woman Union Cabinet Railways Minister of the nation, serving the post twice. She is the chairperson of All India Trinamool Congress Party which she founded in 1997 after splitting from the Indian National Congress. She is a seasoned politician having also served as Union Cabinet Minister of Coal and Mines and as Union Minister of State for the Human Resource Development in the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports; and Department of Women and Child Development.

Mamata Banerjee is leading a delegation of top industry and business leaders with senior representatives from her government to London.”

West Bengal invites UK to ‘ride its growth story’

Posted on July 28, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

The West Bengal government has assured British investors that it has taken steps to bring down the labour strikes to zero levels, as it made a strong case for attracting investments.

“We are setting up systems in place. There has been a radical shift since 2010-11, when 7.6 lakh work days were lost [due to labour strikes]. By 2013, the number of working days lost came down to zero. It takes time for mind-sets to change but please come to Bengal and we can assure very clear worker management processes,” West Bengal’s Finance Minister Amit Mitra said.

He was speaking at a gathering of British and Indian business delegates, organised by the UK India Business Council (UKIBC).

The minister also highlighted the state’s “transparent” process of e-services introduced at all levels, including tax collection, tenders and other areas of services.

“The World Bank has cleared funds for Hooghly riverfront regeneration. We do competitive, transparent, e-based bidding and the UK has the expertise so it must connect up on this project,” the minister said.

Energy, education, smart cities projects and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were the other key sectors highlighted by the West Bengal team as offering great potential for partnerships between the state and UK.

Mitra is the part of a 62-member delegation led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to London this week.

“Bengal in London: Come to Bengal, Ride the Growth” is the theme behind the delegation.

“States are the building blocks of India’s growth and Prime Minister Modi has recognised this in providing a larger role to the states. West Bengal, with its dynamic chief minister and able team, is attracting investors like never before. Doing business in Bengal today is easier, simpler and faster,” said Jyotsna Suri, chairperson of the Bharat Group and president of the Federation Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

Sumit Mazumder, chairman and managing director of TIL Limited and president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), said, “West Bengal is a state with a GDP higher than the national average of the country. It offers lots of opportunities. I urge you to come and find out for yourself.

Mamata in London – Day 2 itinerary

Posted on July 28, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

On the 2^nd day of her visit to London, West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee will hold several meeting throughout the day.

From morning to noon, the West Bengal Chief Minister will be present in meetings regarding Transportation for London, regarding opportunities in Energy and Natural Resources and with officials of the Horniman Museum for collaboration on restoration of musical instruments.

In the afternoon, the Chief Minister will attend a meeting with the Indian delegates and MOU partners at St. James Court.

In the late afternoon, the West Bengal Chief Minister will visit the Parliament Square to pay floral tributes at the Mahatma Gandhi statue and then to the Tavistok Square to pay floral tributes at the Rabindranath Tagore statue.

Today, the West Bengal Chief Minister will also have a meeting Lord Swraj Paul.

Mamata in London – Day 1 itinerary

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

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee reached London at around 11 PM IST, last night with the Bengal business delegation. On social media, she had informed yesterday night that that the meetings will start tomorrow, July 27.

West Bengal Chief Minister’s itinerary on July 27, 2015:

The official delegation has several meetings lined up today with London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Envac, Wembleyon Smart SWM Project, Royal College of General Practitioners, Future Child Catapult and Rothchild.

WB CM will attend a business event hosted by the UKIBC and FICCI in the afternoon.

West Bengal Chief Minister will be visiting the Buckingham Palace on an invitation extended to her by the Duke of York, Prince Andrew.

Today, the West Bengal Chief Minister will also hold a meeting with the Rt Hon Priti Patel, Minister of State for Employment, Government of UK, to discuss several issues regarding Bengal and will be given a felicitation by FCO at the famous Locarno Suite.

Expect to sign over 20 MoUs in UK: Mamata

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

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said she was expecting to sign over 20 MoUs during her five-day visit to the United Kingdom.

Mamata Banerjee, who left for UK on Sunday, told media persons: “We hope to attract investment to make West Bengal an ideal destination.”

“In all, around 100 people are going to London. We will sign 22 to 23 MoUs, which will be good for business. We will focus on areas such as infrastructure development, education, health and tourism,” said the CM.

The meetings are scheduled to begin with a conference of British CEOs at the UK India Business Council meet on July 27. She would also attend a meeting of UKIBC and FICCI to discuss various issues related to business opportunities in the state on the same day.

The CM would also meet the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, at the Buckingham Palace. Ms Banerjee would meet British Employment Minister Priti Patel at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office where several MoUs would be signed.

On July 28, she would meet several business delegates, secretaries and partners who would also sign some MoUs. She would pay floral tributes at the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore.

There would also be a cultural event in the evening at the Natural History Museum.

Mamata Banerjee arrives in London for five-day visit

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

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived in London, UK late Sunday night on a five-day tour heading an over 90-member entourage in a bid to attract investment to the state.

The team consists of Finance and Industry Minister Dr Amit Mitra, nearly 50-member business delegation, three Trinamool Congress MPs Derek O’Brien, Sugato Bose and actor Deepak Adhikari (Deb), Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee and several officials.

ITC chairman Y C Deveshwar, RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group chairman Sanjiv Goenka and Ambuja Neotia Group chairman Harsh Neotia are there in the business delegation.

Industrialist Sanjay Budhia, who is also in the delegation, said he is hopeful that the trip would bring investment in tourism, health and infrastructure sectors.

Mamata Banerjee’s trip to London was finalised following an invitation of British Prime Minister David Cameron. The six-day trip, which will project West Bengal as an ideal destination for investment, would begin with a conference of British CEOs at the UK India Business Council meet on July 27.

She would also attend a meeting of UKIBC and FICCI to discuss various issues related to business opportunities in the state on the same day.

On July 28, she would meet several business delegates, secretaries and partners who would also sign some MoUs. She would pay floral tributes at the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore.

There would also be a cultural event in the evening at the Natural History Museum.

Trinamool slams govt panel’s report on net neutrality | PTI Story

Posted on July 16, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Trinamool Congress tonight slammed a government panel’s report which has proposed regulation of domestic calls made using internet at par with phone calls, saying the recommendations are “by the telecom companies, of the telecom companies and for the telecom companies”.

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien indicated that the matter would be raised in Parliament which meets next week for the Monsoon session and expected Congress as well as ruling BJP to bat for net neutrality.

“This is by the telecom companies, of the telecom companies and for the telecom companies,” he told PTI while commenting on the report on net neutrality submitted by a panel of the Department of Telecom.

While underlining that he had no problem with the telecom companies, he said, “I believe that in the larger interest of 20 millions of people who use internet in India, the freedom to choose should be maintained.”

Hitting out at telecom companies, the Rajya Sabha MP said the private players, “which reported profits”, are trying to kill technology “when they are not able to compete with it”.

“We will keep this fight for net neutrality going on. Please do whatever it takes to keep the net neutrality. No matter how big the boys are, we must be strong and upright,” he emphasised.

He said TMC is not alone on the issue. “I am confident that Congress too will bat for net neutrality. So should BJP.”

The panel has proposed to regulate domestic calls made using Internet-based calling applications such as Skype, Whatsapp and Viber at par with phone call services offered by telecom operators.

The panel has opposed projects like Facebook’s Internet.Org, which allow access to certain websites without mobile data charges, while suggesting that similar plans such as Airtel Zero be allowed with prior clearance from TRAI.

Image courtesy: thinkingaloud.in

Trinamool supports OROP demand by ex-servicemen

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

Ex-servicemen, who are on a relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for the implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP), today reached out to West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress Chairperson Ms Mamata Banerjee.

They handed over a letter written to Mamata Banerjee, seeking her support for their cause.

Leader of AITC Parliamentary Party in the Rajya Sabha and Chief National Spokesperson, Derek O’Brien met the protestors on behalf of Mamata Banerjee earlier today. He spent about one hour at Jantar Mantar speaking to the veterans. He lent support to their cause on behalf of Trinamool Congress.

The ex-servicemen were given several assurances in the past, as recently as 2013 and 2014, regarding the implementation of OROP; the assurances have still not been fulfilled.

“This letter will reach Mamata di and she will even consider visiting them when she is next Delhi,” Derek said.

Trinamool will extend all support to the agitation by ex-servicemen and raise the issue both in and outside Parliament.

Trinamool statement on Vyapam Scam at 1:45pm

Posted on July 6, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Trinamool statement on Vyapam Scam

Statement by the Chief National Spokesperson of the party and leader of the All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party in the Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien:

6 June, 2015 | 1:45 PM

“We are deeply concerned about the series of deaths including those of journalists, educationists and others. In these circumstances we think it appropriate that the Supreme Court takes suo moto action and orders an appropriate probe to be monitored by it. This is the only way the truth will come out.”

Two lakh people to be given employment in Bengal: WB CM

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

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee chaired a Cabinet Meeting at Nabanna today which took several important decisions.

After the meeting, the West Bengal Chief Minister informed that besides others two major decisions were taken in the cabinet meeting. She informed that two lakh people will be inducted into State services to fill up vacancies, which include 70,000 as teaching staff, 60,000 in group ‘C’ and 60,000 in group ‘D’.

The second decision was concerned with the civic volunteers who work seamlessly with the Kolkata police, the Chief Minister informed. The remunerations for the civic volunteers will be raised from Rs 2800 to Rs 5500, the Chief Minister informed. She also said that at par with the home guards, the civic volunteers will be entitled to get 14 days of leave every year. She also informed that the eligible civic volunteers will be inducted as home guards in due course.

The West Bengal Chief Minister also said that the Government will achieve the target of 23 lakh employment this year in various sectors.