Tag: Singapore

Bangla Govt embracing infotech: E-governance, fintech, AI, student competitions, cyber security

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Under the initiative of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the State Government has embraced the use of information technology wholeheartedly. Every Bangla Government office, be they in Kolkata or the districts, is either wholly computerised or in the process of being so. The Government is also encouraging students to work on software technologies to create apps and other useful technologies.

E-governance has been made the norm. As a result, work has become faster – both for the Government offices as well as for the public being served.

All information technology-based aspects of the State Government are handled by the Information Technology & Electronics Department. Thus the department is playing a leading role in the digitisation of governance.

A report published by the McKinsey Global Institute last January had stated that Kolkata is poised to emerge as one of the top Indian cities and one of the epicentres of global financial activities by 2030. According to the report, by virtue of its relative proximity to Singapore and Hong Kong, Kolkata stands a bright chance of becoming a big IT hub.

The department is investing in the latest aspects of information technology. It has formed a core group which will interact with various stakeholders and prepare a repository of case studies of projects involving artificial intelligence (AI). Such cases will be taken up which can be adapted by various departments of the State Government.

The IT&E Department is coming up with is a Centre of Innovation. In an effort to give fresh graduates rent-free space for churning out ideas and designing innovative models, the department is setting up a Centre of Innovation at the IT park being built in Bantala, Kolkata. The blueprint for the centre has already been prepared. It will be functional from this financial year, and will have top academicians, scientists and industry members as its mentors.

The department is also encouraging software-based solutions from students, technical professionals and common citizens, particularly for the day-to-day problems of common people. For the last two years (2017 and 2018), the department has been organising Bengalathon, a competition for the development of apps for day-to-day needs.

Another sector the IT&E Department is actively promoting is fintech (short for ’financial technology’). Fintech is an emerging industry that comprises companies which use digital technology to provide financial services. These companies are involved in digital payment, automatic digital banking, share market analytics, insurance predictions and asset management.

The State Government has taken a leading role in developing fintech. A fintech hub is coming up in New Town, with plug-and-play infrastructure. Several companies have already rented space. The department came up with a stellar show at the Singapore FinTech Festival, held last November.

The department has already started working on emerging technologies like cyber security, blockchain, artificial intelligence, machine learning, animation, IoT (internet of things), Industry 4.0 (a standard), analytics, animation and e-sports. Summits are being held every month on different emerging technologies.

An important avenue of growth and safety that the State Government has identified is cyber security. It has set up a Cyber Security Centre of Excellence in order to successfully confront cyber crimes.

The cyber security centre collects, analyses and disseminates information on cyber security incidents, executes emergency measures, coordinates response, and issues guidelines, advisories and vulnerability notes. It also acts as a monitoring authority for the State, which looks at every single incident and incorporates the information for research and development.

Harnessing technology in the best possible way tops the Bangla Government’s priorities, and the above measures provide ample proof of that.

Night market to open in Kolkata

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On August 14, a new type of market is going to be inaugurated in Kolkata – night market. The idea for such a market has come from the popular night markets in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Kolkata Municipal Development Authority (KMDA) is in charge of constructing and maintaining the place. It will come up near Abhishikta Crossing, stretching from the area near a private hospital in Kasba on EM Bypass up to Kalikapur.

According to a senior official of KMDA, the place will remain open from 6pm to 1am or from 10pm to 3am, on Fridays and Saturdays; it has not been finalised yet.

To popularise it, the market will be kept open for four continuous from the day of inauguration – August 14. On these four days, there will be cultural performances as well.

As per plans, there will be 75 stalls. All sorts of goods of daily needs (both grocery and vegetables) as well as handicrafts from across Bengal will be available at the night market. In fact, the KMDA official said, the latter will form the major attraction of the market.

There will also be readymade food stalls with dinner arrangements, along with arrangements for resting after shopping. All in all, it is expected to be a novel experience.

This will be the second unique marketing experience for the city-dwellers after the floating market in Patuli. Like with the Patuli market, the night market too is part of efforts to rehabilitate hawkers removed for widening of the EM Bypass.

Source: Millennium Post

Bengal puts up stellar show at Singapore FinTech Festival

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The Singapore FinTech Festival, which was held from November 13 to 17, has turned out to be a golden opportunity for the information technology (IT) sector in Bengal.

Bengal is among the top centres in financial technology (fintech, in short) in India. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress Government has taken a lead in reaping the huge talent that the state has in IT.

A 27.738-acre plot, consisting of 15 smaller plots in the range of 0.248 to 4.5 acres, is being developed in New Town, on the outskirts of Kolkata, as a hub for fintech companies.

The cluster for the fintech companies, with plug-and-play infrastructure, is at a strategic location, being at a stone’s throw-distance from Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, Nazrul Tirtha, Business Club and Seniors’ Park.

All these factors have led to Bengal being invited to the Singapore FinTech Festival. And they were highlighted during a presentation by the State Government on November 13.

The Bengal pavilion set up at the festival contains attractive posters highlighting the progress made by the State IT Department under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the last six years.

Source: Khabar 365 Din

 

বাংলার তথ্যপ্রযুক্তিকে সিঙ্গাপুরে প্রদর্শন

ফিনান্সিয়াল টেকনোলোজি কিংবা ফিনটেকে বিশ্বের নজর কাড়ছে বাংলা। এরাজ্যে ফিনটেকের যে পরিমাণ ব্যবহার শুরু হয়েছে, তাতে আগামী দিনে শুধু দেশ কেন, বিশ্বকেও পথ দেখাতে চলেছে বাংলা।

সিঙ্গাপুরে নভেম্বরের ১৩-১৭ তারিখ হয়ে গেল ফিনটেক ফেস্টিভ্যাল। রাজ্য তথ্যপ্রযুক্তির বিস্তারের জন্য যেভাবে কাজ করেছে, তাঁর জন্য এই ফেস্টিভ্যালে জায়গা পেল রাজ্য। ফিনটেকে বাংলার যে বিপুল সম্ভাবনা রয়েছে সেই কথাই তুলে ধরলেন রাজ্যের তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি দপ্তরের অতিরিক্ত মুখ্য সচিব।

তথ্যপ্রযুক্তিকে ছড়িয়ে দিতে যেভাবে নিউটাউনকে গড়ে তলা হয়েছে, তাতে আগামী দিনে এই জায়গাই সারা দেশের মধ্যে প্রথম হয়ে উঠতে পারে।

ইতিমধ্যেই নিউটাউনে ফাইনান্সিয়াল হাবের জন্য বরাদ্দ করা হয়েছে জমি, যেখানে এখন পর্যন্ত ২৩টি ব্যাঙ্ক তাদের জায়গা পেয়েছে। নিউটাউনে গড়ে তলা হয়েছে কনভেনশন সেন্টার। এছাড়াও সেক্টর ফাইভে যেভাবে তথ্যপ্রযুক্তির জন্য সুযোগ দেওয়া হয়েছে, সেটাও তুলে ধরা হয় এই মেলায়।

Come to Bengal, invest in Bengal: Dr Amit Mitra to representatives of 31 countries

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Come to Bengal, invest in Bengal – this was the gist of the message given by the Bengal Finance and Industry Minister, Dr Amit Mitra to top representatives from 31 advanced nations, including 15 ambassadors, in Delhi recently.

The message he carried from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was one of golden opportunities for people wanting to invest in Bengal to set up facilities in any category of industry. Bengal is already a leader in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, and is gradually drawing bigger investors.

This conference was in preparation for the fourth Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS), scheduled for January 16-17, 2018. Over the years, the BGBS summits, a brainchild of Mamata Banerjee for attracting investment in Bengal, after the 34-year industrial drought during the Left Front era, have been a huge hit, with memoranda of understanding (MoU) worth hundreds of crores of rupees signed every year.

Towards that aim, the State Government is also going to organise a road show in Delhi soon.

At the 2017 BGBS, representatives from 29 countries in Europe, USA and Asia attended. The 2018 summit is going to be jointly organised by the Bengal government and the industry body, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

At the Delhi summit, Dr Mitra offered a bouquet of opportunities for anyone wanting to set up, singly or jointly, industrial facilities in any sector. Among the ambassadors were those from Singapore, the Netherlands, Russia, Finland, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Hungary, Israel, Bulgaria, Bhutan and Norway, and among the other countries senior representatives were those from Australia and Thailand.

All of them became very interested after learning of the multiple opportunities being offered by the Bengal Government, and showed a keen interest in investing in the state.

 

৩১ দেশের প্রতিনিধিদের সামনে বাংলায় বিনিয়োগের সম্ভাবনা

 

‘বাংলায় আসুন। বাংলায় বিনিয়োগ করুন’। এই বার্তা নিয়ে দিল্লীতে বিশ্বের প্রথম সারির ৩১দেশের উচ্চপর্যায়ের প্রতিনিধিদের সামনে বক্তব্য রাখেন রাজ্যের অর্থমন্ত্রী অমিত মিত্র। এরপরে দিল্লীতে একটি রোড শো-র আয়োজন করা হয় রাজ্যের তরফে।

মূলত আগামী ১৬-১৭ জানুয়ারি কলকাতায় অনুষ্ঠিত চতুর্থ বিশ্ব বাংলা বাণিজ্য সম্মেলনে যোগ দেওয়ার পাশাপাশি বর্তমান সরকারের আমলে এ রাজ্যে কীভাবে বিনিয়োগের বহু সম্ভাবনা তৈরি হয়েছে সেগুলিই তুলে ধরেন অমিত মিত্র। প্রসঙ্গত, ২০১৭ সালের বেঙ্গল গ্লোবাল বিজনেস সামিটে ইউরোপ, আমেরিকা এবং এবং এশিয়া মহাদেশের মোট ২৯টি দেশ অংশ নিয়েছিল। দিল্লীতে যে ৩১ দেশের প্রতিনিধিদের সঙ্গে অমিত মিত্র বৈঠক করেন তাঁদের মধ্যে অন্তত ১৫জন রাষ্ট্রদূত পদমর্যাদার প্রতিনিধি।

সিঙ্গাপুর, নেদারল্যান্ডস, রাশিয়া, ফিনল্যান্ড, সৌদি আরব, ইন্দোনেশিয়া, হাঙ্গেরি, ইজরায়েল, বুলগেরিয়া, ভুটান এবং নরওয়ের মতো দেশগুলি বাংলায় বিনিয়োগ নিয়ে এতটাই উৎসাহিত যে ভারতে নিযুক্ত তাঁদের রাষ্ট্রদূতদেরই এদিন পশ্চিমবঙ্গের অর্থমন্ত্রীর সঙ্গে বৈঠকে আসার নির্দেশ দিয়েছিল। এ ছাড়াও অস্ট্রেলিয়া, থাইল্যান্ডের মতো দেশগুলি পাঠিয়েছিল তাঁদের উচ্চপদস্থ আধিকারিকদের।

এদিনের বৈঠকে অমিত মিত্র তুলে ধরেন বাংলায় বিনিয়োগ করলে রাজ্য সরকারের তরফে কি কি ক্ষেত্রে কি ধরনের সুযোগসুবিধে প্রদান করা হবে তা নিয়ে। সেই সঙ্গে তিনি তুলে ধরেন রাজ্যে কোন কোন ক্ষেত্রে বিনিয়োগের প্রচুর সম্ভাবনা রয়েছে। এর পর ওয়েস্ট বেঙ্গল ইন্ডাস্ট্রিয়াল ডেভেলপমেন্ট কর্পোরেশনের ম্যানেজিং ডিরেক্টর রাজ্যে বিনিয়োগের ক্ষেত্র, তার সম্ভাবনা এবং রাজ্যের তরফে সাহায্য ও যাবতীয় পরিকাঠামোগত সুবিধে নিয়ে বানানো একটি প্রেজেন্টেশনও দেখান সকলকে।

২০১৮ সালের বেঙ্গল গ্লোবাল বিজনেস সামিটে রাজ্য সরকারের পাশাপাশি বণিক সংগঠন ফিকি-ও যৌথভাবে উদ্যোক্তার ভূমিকায় রয়েছে। উপস্থিত ছিলেন ফিকি’র সেক্রেটারি জেনারেল। পশ্চিমবঙ্গের শিল্প ও বাণিজ্য সচিবও বিদেশী প্রতিনিধিদের কাছে তার দপ্তরের সহযোগিতার কথা তুলে ধরেন। দেশের অন্যান্য বহু শহরে যেখানে শিল্পবান্ধব পরিবেশের যথেষ্ট অভাব রয়েছে, সেখানে বাংলার তরফে সমস্ত ধরনের সুযোগসুবিধের ডালি নিয়ে বিদেশী রাষ্ট্রগুলির প্রতিনিধিদের কাছে উপস্থাপনের ফলে তারাও যথেষ্ট উৎসাহ পেয়েছেন।
Source: Khabar 365 Din

Durga Pujas outside Bengal

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The pomp and grandeur associated with Durga Puja make it one of the most popular festivals of Bengal as well as India.

Not just for those in Bengal, for the Bengalis in other parts of India and for the Bengali diaspora spread out in distant lands too, Durga Puja is that time of the year when annual get-togethers happen. The community feeling is never stronger. It is a welcome reunion, a respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

The organisers in cities outside Bengal mostly bring in the idol artistes from the state, almost a month in advance. Overseas, though, Durga Puja organisers ship the idols, mostly from Kumortuli in Kolkata, where some of the best works are created. However, because of the cost involved, idols are generally bought only every few years. After Durga Puja is over, all the idols are carefully packed and stored for the next year.

It must also be said that in many places outside Bengal too, people of all communities partake of the celebrations. The celebrations are of course organised by Bengalis, but they are open to all, to enable everyone to experience the resplendence of Durga Puja.

Durga Pujas outside India

Pujas outside India are different in some ways, though. For one, it is more often than not a weekend affair rather than a four- or five-day one. It is simply not possible to get leave for a festival not native to that country. Usually a community hall is hired for the purpose, as it is difficult to get space or permission to build a pandal like in India.

Though shortened affiars, there is no lack of devotion. Rules and regulations are followed as much as possible in the given circumstances. So these pujas don’t heed the usual tithi (prescribed auspicious moments in the almanac). The food is usually ordered from restaurants. Smaller get-togethers do have the women cooking, but that is rare nowadays. Part of the cost is covered by selling tickets for the entire programme – the puja, the food and the cultural functions in the evenings, which are mostly Bengali.

Among other countries, Durga Pujas are organised in Bangladesh, USA, the UK, South Africa, UAE, Canada, Russia, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Austria and Belgium, and even in the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Sweden and Finland.

New Zealand is where it starts first

An interesting fact to know is that Auckland, Palmerston and Wellington in New Zealand, being the easternmost cities in the world to organise Durga Puja, mark the bodhon of Mahashasthi (the starting of Durga Puja) much before the rest of the world, going by GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).

This year, Ram Mandir in Auckland, which organises the oldest Durga Puja in New Zealand, will be celebrating its silver jubilee.

 

 

বাংলার বাইরে দুর্গাপুজো

দুর্গাপুজোর মত ধূমধাম, জাঁকজমক, জনসমারোহ বাঙালীদের অন্য কোন উৎসবে দেখা যায় না।

পশ্চিমবঙ্গের বাঙালিদের মতো দেশে বিদেশে ছড়িয়ে থাকা বাকি বাঙালিদের জন্যও এই শারদীয়ার দিনগুলি হল সবাই মিলিত হওয়ার সময়। সারা বছরের ভাল খারাপ স্মৃতিগুলিকে পেছনে ফেলে এই দিনগুলিতে মানুষ আনন্দে মেতে ওঠে।

অনেক জায়গায় কলকাতা থেকে কুমোরদের নিয়ে যাওয়া হয় মূর্তি তৈরী করার জন্য, তাদের দেখাশোনা করা হয় ও ভালো পারিশ্রমিক দেওয়া হয়। বিদেশে জাহাজে করে প্রতিমা পাড়ি দেয়। এই প্রতিমাগুলির বেশিরভাগই কুমোরটুলির নামকরা প্রতিমার কারিগরদের থেকেই নেওয়া হয়। যেহেতু অনেক খরচের ব্যাপার আছে, সেহেতু এই মূর্তিগুলি প্রতি বছর কেনা হয় না, একবার পুজো শেষ হলে মূর্তিগুলি ভালো করে মুড়ে সামনের বছর আবার পুজোর জন্য যত্ন করে রেখে দেওয়া হয়। প্রসঙ্গত বলা যেতে পারে, বাংলার মতো সব জায়গাতেই এই দুর্গাপুজোর আয়োজক বাঙালিরাও হলেও এই পুজোয় জাতি ধর্ম নির্বিশেষে সব জাতির মানুষরাই অংশগ্রহণ করে ও আনন্দে মেতে ওঠে।

বিদেশের দুর্গাপুজো

দেশের বাইরের পুজোগুলো একটু হলেও অন্যরকম হয়। ওখানে এটি সপ্তাহের শেষের একটি অনুষ্ঠান মাত্র। বিদেশে যেহেতু এই উত্সব পালনের রেওয়াজ নেই সেহেতু এই পুজোকে কেন্দ্র করে ছুটি পাওয়া যায় না। যেহেতু ফাঁকা জায়গা ও প্যান্ডেল তৈরী করার অনুমোদন পাওয়াও খুব  কষ্টকর, সেহেতু একটি কমিউনিটি হল ভাড়া নিয়ে এই উত্সব পালন করা হয়।

উত্সবের সময় কম হলেও ভক্তি বা জাঁকজমকের কোনো অভাব হয় না। নিয়ম নিষ্ঠা যতদূর সম্ভব পালন করা হয়। এখানে তিথি লগ্ন নিয়ে এত বিচার করা হয় না। সাধারণত রেস্টুরেন্ট থেকে খাবার আনানো হয়, আয়োজকের সংখ্যা কম হলে মহিলারা নিজেরাই রান্না করে থাকেন, যদিও সেই প্রচলন আর চোখে পড়ে না বললেই চলে। সন্ধ্যেবেলা বিভিন্ন সাংস্কৃতিক অনুষ্ঠানের আয়োজন করা হয়।

বাংলাদেশ, আমেরিকা, ইউনাইটেড কিংডম, সাউথ আফ্রিকা, আরব, কানাডা, রাশিয়া, ইতালি, মালয়েশিয়া, সিঙ্গাপুর, অস্ট্রিয়া, বেলজিয়াম, সুইডেন, ফিনল্যাণ্ড ও ডেনমার্কে এই উৎসব পালন করা হয়।

নিউজিল্যান্ডে প্রথম শুরু হয় পুজো

সব থেকে পূর্বের শহর হওয়ার কারণে সারা পৃথিবীর যে সকল জায়গায় দূর্গা পুজো হয়, তার মধ্যে নিউজিল্যান্ডের অকল্যান্ড, ওয়েলিংটন ও পামেরস্টন শহরে মহাষষ্ঠীর বোধন সবার আগে হবে।

এই বছর নিউজিল্যান্ডের অকল্যান্ড শহরের রামমন্দির যে দুর্গাপুজোর আয়োজন করে তা এবার ২৫ বছরে পা দেবে নিউজিল্যান্ডের সব থেকে পুরোনো দুর্গাপুজো।

 

 

 

Singapore firm to invest Rs 70 cr in Barasat based agri-lab

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A Singapore-based company has decided to invest Rs 70 crore after entering into a partnership with EFRAC (Edward Food Research and Analysis Centre) laboratory at Barasat in North 24 Parganas.

The discussion with the Singapore based company Mandala Capital Limited that focuses on long term investment in the food and agri sector in the Indian sub-continent had initiated during the Chief Minister’s Singapore visit. Moreover, there was also a discussion on the matter during the Bengal Global Business Summit.

Dr Amit Mitra, the state finance minister, said that at present, 68 scientists work in the laboratory. With the investment, the number will go up to 150 and in the next three to four years there will around 300 to 400 scientists working in the laboratory.

The money will be utilised in bringing further development in infrastructure and capabilities of the laboratory. The group also has a plan to further invest the equal amount of money after it’s initially success.

 

The image is representative (source)

Singapore team shows interest in New Town smart city project

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A seven-member team from Singapore met state urban development officials recently and showed interest in various smart city projects, especially that of New Town.

The state government has asked the delegation to see if they could form a consortium to assist the government for the smart city projects.

The state is also planning to stage a road show in Singapore to promote the smart city projects.

The delegation from Singapore consisted of Grace Chiew, Wong So San, Khor Aik Lan, Amita Mehta, Tay Lian Cheu, Uma Maheswaran and Nirup Jayanth.

The delegates expressed interest mainly in urban planning and mobility and development of parks, leisure centres and other facilities.

Singapore looking for more opportunities to invest in Bengal

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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.

Andal airport to be operational from May 18: WB CM

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India’s first private green-field airport set up in collaboration with Changi International Airport of Singapore is ready for commercial operation from 18th May, 2015 at Andal near Durgapur.

WB CM Ms Mamata Banerjee today addressed a press conference where she announced that Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport at Andal is India’s first green-field airport. Seventeen such airports were announced to be set up in India but only the Bengal project was completed.

WB CM thanked Singapore-based Changi Airport group for their support and cooperation. She said this airport will soon have flight connectivity with Singapore. The government has also decided to exempt sales tax on aviation turbine fuel for this airport till 2020-21 to make air-travel affordable for common people.

“Bengal will now be connected with the entire world,” the Chief Minister remarked.

Tweets from the Chief Minister:

Critical care in Govt hospitals to be upgraded in Bengal with Singapore tie-up

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The West Bengal Government is all set to sign an agreement with its Singapore counterpart to upgrade critical care services in the public health care system in Bengal.

Critical care services are specialized and prompt treatment facilities are made available in a hospital’s critical care unit (CCU). A CCU provides patients in critical condition who require close and constant monitoring with specialized medical equipment to restore their normal bodily functions. CCUs have trained doctors and nurses available round the clock.

At the recently concluded Global Bengal Business Summit, the State health department had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Singapore Government in order to upgrade critical care services in state-run medical colleges and hospitals. An agreement between Bengal and Singapore will be signed soon. Officials from the State health department will visit Singapore to finalise the agreement. A team of officials from the Singapore national health services government has already visited different medical colleges in Kolkata to discuss the issue.

According to the proposed agreement, around 100 specialist doctors and nurses associated with different state-run medical colleges and hospitals will undergo training programmes in critical care treatment in top hospitals run by the Singapore government in different phases. The critical care specialists from Singapore will also come to Kolkata to share their expertise with these 100 doctors and nurses. The entire training programme will span over three years.