Outgoing German consul Rainer Schmiedchen lauded Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, appreciating her role in controlling situations in Jangalmahal and Darjeeling.
“Her governance made it easier for me to promote German tourists to the hills. She made honest efforts to solve the Gorkhaland situation and now there is a solution to bandhs. Tourism cannot prosper with bandhs and this was a success for Mamata, which the earlier government could not solve. I find her success in Jangalmahal a major achievement. as well,” Schmiedchen said.
“The CM is trying to boost investment in Bengal in a novel way, which started with Bengal Leads. She is trying her best to attract foreign funds, however the results are awaited,” he added.
The German diplomat was all praise for state finance minister Amit Mitra too.
“I do not hear any more about the dire financial straits of the state exchequer — this suggests that Mitra must have done something to solve the crisis. The CM is not seeking moratorium from the Centre anymore.”
The consul general added that his four-year stay in the city would remain a pleasant memory. “I requested the foreign office to extend my stay by a year since I liked Kolkata. It is a warm city and helped me to feel at home. My wife, an Indologist, also enjoyed her stay here. She was even awarded the Padma Sri this year.”
Schmiedchen said “I did not witness any hindrance in investment due to land hurdle here.” He admitted that there was no mega investment in Bengal as he had envisaged, but several German companies have started operations in Bengal.