Bengal shines in London, thanks to the initiatives of WB CM

Bengal shines in London, thanks to the initiatives of WB CM

Posted on August 2, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee truncated her visit to London by a day because of the natural calamities in Bengal. That did not stop the 5-day visit to UK from being a success.

As the Chief Minister had said before leaving on July 25, this visit helped a lot in dispelling myths about West Bengal and gave the State an image-makeover.

MoUs signed

The delegation to the UK clinched 21 MoUs with the UK in the fields of industry, health, education and urban development.

The agreements were signed during a bilateral meeting with Britain’s Minister of State for Employment and British Prime Minister David Cameron’s Indian Diaspora champion Priti Patel at a reception hosted at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London on July 26.

WB CM with delegates at the British Foreign Office

“This is a landmark visit… These MoUs will help bring the UK and West Bengal ever closer, and unleash the potential of our relationship,” Patel said in her address.

“If you say London is the (financial) capital of the world, I say Bengal is the human capital of the world,” WB CM said in her address.

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Come to Bengal, Ride the growth

Speaking at a gathering of British and Indian business delegates, organised by the UK India Business Council (UKIBC), the Finance and Industries Minister Dr Amit Mitra assured British investors that the government 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,” he said.

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WB CM taking a walk by the Thames

Letter from the UK PM

UK PM David Cameron, who could not be in London because of a foreign visit, sent a letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee on Monday apologising for his absence. “I wish you a successful and rewarding visit which will help forge the close ties between UK and Bengal,” reads an excerpt from the letter.

“My message for the British PM is that he must visit Kolkata again soon and see that it is truly the gateway to the east,” WB CM said in response to the letter.

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Reception at Buckingham Palace

Mamata Banerjee on Monday became the first chief minister from an Indian state to get an official reception at Buckingham Palace, Britain’s most iconic address. Prince Andrew hosted an evening tea for the Chief Minister at the house of the monarch.

WB CM at Buckingham Palace with Prince Andrew

The Chief Minister had a 40-minute one-on-one interview with Prince Andrew, who described her as “a very dynamic leader, leading a dynamic government, sowing the transformation of Bengal”. The prince, it was learnt, has gifted the chief minister a bag with motifs of Buckingham Palace on it.

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WB CM wins hearts at Asia House, UK

The West Bengal Chief Minister invited the members of Asia House, London – the probable investors – to come and scout the State for exploring investment opportunities.

She received a standing ovation from the members of the Asia House who admitted that they were mesmerised by her speech and were glad to know about the investment opportunities in Bengal.

WB CM at Asia House, London

“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,” said a note on the Asia House website.

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The London trip got a lot of praise from the media too. Here is an article praising the initiatives of Mamata Banerjee to attract investments for Bengal.

Bengal’s best foot forward with Mamata’s London trip

Posted on July 31, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Didi’s London Trip

Mamata Banerjee attended an interactive private dinner with UK investors

Discussions focused on how to increase UK investment in West Bengal were held

UK businessmen voiced their concerns about labour issues, urban development, speed of clearances and approvals

MoUs were signed with the University of Cambridge, East Anglia and SOAS

The death of India’s much-loved former President APJ Abdul Kalam truncated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s 4-day programme in London. As a mark of respect all public engagements were cancelled.

Mamata Banerjee left London last night, a day ahead of schedule as ‘the possibility of a cyclone’ hitting Bengal loomed.

22 MOU were signed, which covered four areas: industry, healthcare, education and smart cities.

The first day saw 250 people at the business seminar in the afternoon. It was an interactive discussion with the UK and West Bengal businesses asking and answering the questions that emerged.

Those present say businessmen from Bengal did a great job selling the state. Both business and the state government sent out the same positive message. Businessmen from the UK voiced their concerns about labour issues, urban development, speed of clearances and approvals. Their fears were brushed aside by businessmen from Bengal, who assured them that ‘bandhs’ or forced closures were now a thing of the past and this government was serious about business.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with UK Minister of State for Education Priti Patel

That evening, the event at the Foreign Office was also over-subscribed. The UK Minister of State for Education, Priti Patel, who had met Banerjee in 2013 when she visited Kolkata with the British Prime Minister David Cameron, welcomed her to London and offered continued partnership. The Chief Minister responded with a speech that drew applause, “London is the world’s financial capital, and West Bengal is the world’s human capital.”

One of those present at the meeting says, “It was very personal, showing her love of Bengal and her belief that the UK is the right partner, not least because we have such a strong shared cultural and historical connection.”

Wooing UK Investors

MoUs and other business documents between UK and Bengal were signed

Mamata Banerjee also attended an interactive private dinner with UK investors, hosted by Patricia Hewitt, Chair of the UK India Business Council. It gave the Chief Minister and select members of her team an opportunity to closely interact with UK investors. Banerjee had a proposition for each of the UK businesses that attended. A plan was drawn up to further develop these relationships.

Interestingly, a potential British investor was heard saying at the dinner that night, “Until today, West Bengal was not a priority area in India for us, but it is now.”

Kevin McCole, UK India Business Council’s Chief Operating Officer points out:

“Although the shortened programme meant there was only one full day of activity, it was a hugely impactful day. The Chief Minister, by bringing such a strong business delegation, has set the bar high for other Indian states looking to attract investors. And the highly interactive nature of the business conference – no speeches and no powerpoint – has redrawn the model for how these events are delivered. UK investors were impressed by her can-do attitude. They were also impressed by the message the Chief Minister gave in her speech at the evening event. It was full of passion, compassion, humility and humour.”

There was also a focused round table, led by the Industries Secretary and the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), Managing Director on the mining and natural resources sector. Ten current and potential UK investors held a discussion, which focused on how to increase UK investment into the state. Among the subjects discussed, was the need to create a UK-WB public private partnership mining engineering training institute, another was modifications to the Government of India’s public procurement processes to make it more commercially viable for companies to set up in India to service the market.

MoUs with UK Universities

Exchanges on investment and other collaborations between United Kingdom and Bengal were held

On the education front too, there was a sense of satisfaction. MoUs were signed with the University of Cambridge, East Anglia and SOAS . Presidency University’s Vice Chancellor Anuradha Lohia was overwhelmed with the support she received from the state government, “Our CM would like to make Bengal an education hub and create a huge resource of skilled manpower.”

“Mamata di’s ability to connect with every member of the delegation was exemplary. She was constantly chatting with all of us during the flight, looking after everyone’s food and comfort while conducting her business. She is an amazing walker.She walked constantly at Kolkata and Delhi airports. She walked 10 to 12 kms every morning, often leaving her companions trailing far behind. Inexhaustible, full of affection, energetic and enthusiastic.”

Once she returns, the Chief Minister and her team will have to work doubly hard.

“The stage has now been set for more UK investments in Bengal. But it will require follow up by both parties, and we hope that a further delegation from West Bengal in the autumn will generate a strong return delegation to Kolkata for the investors summit in January.”

Bengal certainly seems to have put its best foot forward. Now it needs to take brisk steps and regain lost ground.

(The writer, Payal Mohanka, is a Kolkata-based senior journalist. The article was first published on The Quint, July 30, 2015)

WB CM wins hearts of investors at Asia House, London

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

The West Bengal Chief Minister invited the members of Asia House, London – the probable investors – to come and scout the State for exploring investment opportunities. She asserted that during the last four years, the infrastructure in the State has become business-friendly in comparison to the past years.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee highlighted the economic advantages of West Bengal and investment opportunities in the state during a private briefing held at Asia House.

The topics discussed included infrastructure development in the state, incentives for foreign businesses to invest, the state’s relationship with the Centre, efforts to cut bureaucracy and tackle corruption, the state’s workforce and West Bengal’s historic ties with the UK.

“I am not from a business background, I am a street fighter. You know better, Bengal is ready for investment. Perception of Bengal has to change and is changing. That is why I am here in London to meet you,” the West Bengal Chief Minister said at the meet.

She received a standing ovation from the members of the Asia House who admitted that they were mesmerised by her speech and were glad to know about the investment opportunities in Bengal.

The Corporate members represented at the table included Anglo American, KPMG, Barclays, Nikkei, BP, PA Consulting, PwC and Standard Chartered. The private briefing was held in partnership with KPMG.

Prominent UK industrialist keen to set up sports car hub in Bengal

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

Prominent UK investor Lord Swraj Paul-led Caparo Group may set up a compact sports car manufacturing unit in the state.

With West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee by his side, Lord Paul said on Wednesday that his company is looking forward to integrating its auto ancillary business. Currently the group is working on the design of a low-end sports car for the Indian and Asian market.

The Caparo group has business interests in the manufacturing and marketing of car bodies, steel sheets and other auto engineering products. “This project is currently at the R&D stage. We have entrusted British Formula One giant McLaren with its design. If all goes well, India would be the place where I plan to set up its manufacturing base,” Paul said.

When asked, if Bengal would be his preferred choice, Paul replied: “West Bengal would certainly have the first rights of refusal.”

WB CM invites David Cameron to revisit Kolkata

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

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has invited British Prime Minister David Cameron to revisit Kolkata soon, describing the city “a true getaway to the east”.

“My message for the British PM is that he must visit Kolkata again soon and see that it is truly the gateway to the east,” she said in response to a letter from Mr Cameron apologising for not being able to meet her in London due to his tour of South East Asia.

“I am sorry that my travel plans mean I will not be in London to see you in London…I fondly recall our meeting in Kolkata in November 2013, when we discussed the positive UK-West Bengal bilateral cooperation that exists, and the wealth of trade and investment opportunities this offers,” the British PM had written in his letter dated July 24.

Ms Banerjee highlighted that it was a matter of “destiny” that Britain turns to Kolkata and West Bengal, which she described as a “gateway to Asia”.

“Britain started with Kolkata as its business capital (during the Raj) so that is the destination. History repeats itself and it is destiny that British business should expand to Kolkata,” she said.

Asked how the West Bengal capital compares to London, the Trinamool Congress leader said both cities have their own identity but there are a number of similarities.

“As I have been walking around I see a lot of similarities in architecture and road names. They have Queen Victoria’s statue, we have Victoria Memorial. London is an expensive city but Kolkata is not. It is a soft, soothing, cheap city. London is pollution-free and we are fast moving towards a cleaner, greener city,” she said.

Walking has been central theme of the chief minister’s visit to the UK, as she prefers to explore London mostly by foot in her trademark white sari and flip-flops.

Asked if she would revisit the British capital, she said: “I will definitely come back. This has been a very fruitful business meet. The perception of Bengal has changed today. It is set to become the industrial hub of India. The size of investments will become clear over time but 21 MoUs have been signed, which is a very positive sign.”

“Today the world is a united family and we must walk together,” she said.

Canary Wharf model for business hub in Rajarhat

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

Tall shimmering skycrapers of London’s business district may soon be seen in the heart of Kolkata. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to recreate London’s financial district -Canary Wharf -in Rajarhat.

According to the CM, the financial hub which is already under construction will look like the one in London.

UK India Business Council, WB CM’s hosts in the UK, is planning to open an office in the Kolkata financial district to rope in more investments into Bengal.

The CM said she has decided to give UKIBC land to build their office here.

It is learnt that top executives of J P Morgan and HSBC also met the chief minister and finance minister Amit Mitra to inquire about the hub over the last two days in London.

Spread over some 35.76 acres, the hub has already roped in 11 banks and financial institutions like the NIC, UBI, UCOBank, SBI, Union Bank, Bank of Baroda, Allahabad Bank, Corporation Bank, Sriram Credit and two state government institutions, the West Bengal Financial Corporation and the West Bengal Infrastructure Development Corporation.

“It’s the second such hub in the country after the one at Bandra Kurla in Mumbai,” said Firhad Hakim, urban development minister of Bengal. “Of the 23 plots in the financial hub, 11 have already been booked,” he added.

The Bengal government has already successfully organized three roadshows in Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi to market the New Town financial hub.

Banks, stock exchanges, commodity broking houses, mutual fund companies having an average annual turnover of Rs 500 crore for the last three financial years ending March 31, 2014 are eligible to express their interest in booking plots within the hub.

Captains of industry praise Bengal as investment destination

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

Dignitaries and the members of business delegation showered praises on the West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee and the industrial condition of West Bengal at different meeting held by the Bengal business delegation in London.

Excerpts:

British Employment Minister Priti Patel: “She is an amazing lady, let me be clear about that, in terms of detail, vision and passion. She is an incredible leader – to listen to her speak on the podium and in conversation as well.”

“They (UK investors) started to dip their toes in the west when the PM and I went to Calcutta two years ago.”

“Now we were able to follow up from the discussions and the conversations we had then. She was then fizzing with ideas. Now we were able to put through things in a much more concrete way.”

UKIBC Chair, Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt: “What I heard was not the usual rhetorics; I could also see a clear sense of purpose.”

Chandra Kumar Dhanuka, Chairman, Dhunseri: Never lost any mandays because of labour problems. I take the responsibility to say that the industrial relation in West Bengalis better than any other States in India.”

Sanjay Budhia, MD, Patton: “No mandays were wasted in our factories. New factory received license and other required papers from the Government within seven days.”

YC Deveswar, Chairman, ITC Limited: “I have come to London in spite of my busy schedule because I wanted to let you know about my experiences of doing business in Bengal. I think there are very less markets in India such as West Bengal. Consumption level is increasing by 3% per annum here.”

Harsh Neotia, Chairman, Ambuja Neotia Group: “Kolkata will judge you first. If it likes you, it will give you the warmest of welcomes. You have to come here with the mindset of playing a long innings.”

Head of Apollo Tyres: “The presentation about Bengal and the case studies shown have been an eye-opener.”

Sanjeev Goenka: Though we are happy with our investments in UK, we are happier with our investments in Bengal.”

No red tape, backlogs in Bengal: WB CM in London

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

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee has called on the UK to invest in her state stating that “backlogs and red tape are gone”.

In reference to the progress made by the Trinamool Congress government over the last four years, she said “If there is a vision, there is a mission…(otherwise) there will be no action plan also”.

“If you say London is the (financial) capital of the world, I say Bengal is the human capital of the world,” she said in her address at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) last evening.

Later in the day , Lord Swraj Paul called on Mamata in her hotel. Paul, said he was willing to help Bengal in “whatever way possible”.

The Chief Minister, who walked around London yesterday, covered over 12km in two hours.

A closed-door business meeting at Asia House is scheduled later today.

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.

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.