Tag: UK

WB CM to meet UK industry brass

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With chief minister Mamata Banerjee being invited to Asia House in London for a round-table meeting on July 29, top state officials are working overtime to prepare for the 90-minute power-packed event, which is likely to pave the way for investment propositions in Bengal.

Asia House in London, which recently hosted dignitaries, such as the president of Mongolia, secretary of ASEAN, foreign minister of Japan and finance minister of Thailand, has invited WB CM to discuss Bengal’s potential as a business destination. The Chief Minister, along with state Finance Minister Dr Amit Mitra, Chief Secretary Sanjay Mitra, MSME Secretary Rajiva Sinha and other bureaucrats, will talk about the “ease of running business“ in Bengal.

In a note for the meeting, Asia House has mentioned Bengal’s achievements on the industry front. “It has abundant natural resources and a growing IT sector… the state government is making efforts to encourage higher revenue mobilization and enhance capital expenditure. The state is undergoing a major deregulation drive to make doing business in the state easier, faster and more transparent,“ it stated.

WB CM to showcase Bengal for investments in London

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee would visit the UK to showcase the state as an ideal destination for investment. She will be leading a 37-member official delegation to London on July 26 for her five-day visit to the UK and would return to Kolkata on July 30.

The Chief Minister’s visit would begin with a conference of British CEOs during her interaction at the UK India Business Council.

The West Bengal Chief Minister will meet Prince Andrew at Buckingham Palace during her visit to London this month.

Baroness Frances D’Souza, the Speaker of the House of Lords, and Priti Patel, an Indian-origin minister of state for employment, are among the others scheduled to meet West Bengal Chief Minister, who will leave for the UK on July 26.

The next day, July 27, the West Bengal Chief Minister will attend a meeting organised by the UK-India Business Council and FICCI at an event in the UK foreign office.

On July 28, the West Bengal Chief Minister will hold meetings with the Indian business delegation and their MoU partners in the UK. She will also attend a cultural programme at the Natural History Museum.

The next day, she will meet the directors of Asia House, a non-profit organisation. The Indian High Commission will host a reception for Mamata.

The West Bengal Chief Minister is also scheduled to visit the recently unveiled statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Parliament Square, London and pay homage.

She will fly back to Kolkata on July 30.

Industrialists hopeful of CM’s London visit

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Industrialists in the state have pinned immense hope in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s visit to London end of July which is aimed at inviting investment from industrialists of Europe.

On the invitation of British Prime Minister David Cameron, the West Bengal Chief Minister is leaving for London on July 27 along with a delegation of West Bengal Finance, Industries and Commerce Minister Dr Amit Mitra, senior government officials, industrialists – Sanjeev Goenka, Karan Paul to name a few – and three of her party MPs, Dev, Sugata Bose and Derek O’Brien.

“Winds of Change are blowing in West Bengal under the dynamic leadership of our Hon’ble Chief Minister. Her forthcoming visit to United Kingdom will prove to be a milestone in putting Bengal in International Radar. The visit of UK Prime Minister David Cameron in 2013, the first ever visit of any UK Prime Minister in Bengal itself raised the bars – the significance, Bengal now commands globally. Bengal which has a long historic association, relation and affinity with Britain will immensely benefit from this visit. There are many areas to embrace such as Infrastructural Development, Tourism, Education, River front beautification etc which can bring a radical change in Bengal. London known for its historic legacies is brimful of heritage buildings and edifices. The technology and knowhow adopted towards its restoration can be assimilated in maintenance of our Heritage Buildings. Modern London is also bustling with latest technological innovations and implementation which can pave the way for our infrastructural growth,” Sanjay Budhia, eminent industrialist of Kolkata, who is likely to accompany the Chief Minister said in a statement.

Echoed Harsh Neotia, another eminent industrialist, who is also going with the Chief Minister. ” The visit will play a big role in creating interest among foreign investors about West Bengal and the investment opportunities here,” Neotia told Echo of India. Prior to London, Mamata visited Singapore where she invited industrialists of that country to invest in West Bengal.

Hinduja praises WB CM’s industry initiatives

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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.

Didi wishes David Cameron with a hand-written note

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee has sent a hand-written congratulatory note to David Cameron after he returned to 10 Downing Street for his second term as Britain’s prime minister.

The gesture – WB CM was the only head of an Indian state to congratulate Mr Cameron – is expected to go a long way in strengthening ties between Britain and Bengal.

When WB CM arrives in Britain on July 26, she will also become the first chief minister from India to hold a bilateral meeting with Cameron in his second term. It will be Mamata Banerjee’s second business trip, and her first to UK, since taking over office.

The British Prime Minister, who met Ms Mamata Banerjee during his Kolkata trip in 2013, had personally invited the CM.

“Kolkata is expanding and there is huge need for infrastructure development and town planning in which Britain has tremendous expertise. You also need to clean up your rivers and waterways, just like we had to do with the Thames,” David Cameron had said.

Bengal Leads

Britain praises Bengal business initiatives

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After new industry policies being implemented and business initiatives taken up the West Bengal Government led by Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee, foreign countries are now shifting their focus on the State. Britain has a keen eye to invest heavily in Bengal with the chair of the UK India Business Council telling that the state is India’s “Gateway to South East Asia“.

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee was invited to visit the UK. Patricia Hewitt, who invited the Chief Minister on behalf of the British organisations, told that the state’s unique geographical position and its tremendous rich in natural resources have made it the next hot spot for British business houses.

Hewitt who was recently in Kolkata said “I was delighted to accept an invitation to give a keynote address at Biswa Bangla the recent showcase for West Bengal as an investment destination and itself an example of “competitive federalism” in action. The West Bengal Chief Minister was very clear that she wants to see more business, more investment and more jobs in the state and I am pleased that she and her finance minister, Dr Amit Mitra accepted my invitation to come and tell the Bengal story in Britain”.

“The challenges in Bengal are much the same as they are elsewhere in India. However, just look at Bengal on a map. It is surrounded by key states like Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand. It straddles the route into Myanmar and ASEAN.In fact it is quicker to fly to Bangkok from Kolkata than it is to fly to Mumbai,“ Hewitt said.

“Added to this, 70% of India’s natural resources are in eastern India, there is a large cluster of mining and metallurgical companies based in Bengal, some with strong foreign links. The state government plans to improve urban, transport and industrial infrastructure, and many UK firms are taking active interest in these emerging opportunities,“ she added.

Hewitt said: “In many ways Bengal is playing catch-up after a slumber caused by some 34 years of Communist party rule. Companies in the UK looking to build business in the region will find that gaining early entry will bring significant gains in the medium term in a part of India that naturally looks east to the fastest growing economies, in ASEAN and East Asia“. Hewitt has had a long and distinguished career in politics and government, including being the longest-serving secretary of state for trade and industry in the last 50 years.

According to her, more than 700 British companies are operating in India and around many of them have a presence in Bengal. These include Standard Chartered, HSBC, BT, MaxBupa, Pavers, Bourneville College, Joy Mining, PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, Siemens Vai and Unilever.

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee recently reported that Bengal’s GDP grew by 7.6% while India’s GDP grew by 4.96% in 2012-13. Bengal’s industrial sector grew by 6.24% while that of India grew by 3.12%. In the services sector, she said that Bengal grew by 9.48% while India grew by 6.59%. According to her, since May 2011, the state has received investment proposals to the tune of £13.6 billion.

State educational body ties up with UK for teachers’ training

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The West Bengal Education Department has been going through massive changes in the last three years, implementing different ideas from the experts which may benefit the student. Now, it has gone for an international tie-up with an UK-based organisation.

The State Council of Educational Research & Training (SCERT) under the Government of West Bengal has taken a unique step to meet up the demand of teachers in Government and Government-aided schools of the State. The educational body under the State Government has teamed up with the third largest educational institution of Great Britain, Open University, UK for forming a guideline on teaching methods.

Teacher Education through School-based Support (TES India) has been formed to serve the purpose in association of the State body and the UK institution. A programme entitled Open Educational Resource is underway.

Besides forming booklets, there will be the scope of training for the teachers through online methods. Mobile phone apps, video clippings will extensively be used to serve the purpose.

The State Government committee that makes the syllabi for different classes has already started training teachers at primary and post primary level with the new system. In the coming two years, it is expected that the new programme will begin to show its results

Foreign delegates all praise for Bengal at Global Business Summit

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Bengal Global Business Summit started on a positive note. After the hugely successful morning session where the captains of the industry hailed Bengal, in the afternoon delegates from more than 20 countries participated in the Bengal Global Business Summit and praised about the growth of Bengal.

The participating countries include United States, United Kingdom, Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Luxembourg and Australia.

Here is what they said:

  • UKIBC Chair Patricia Hewitt: I invite the Hon. Chief Minister to visit England. I am here to promote B2B – not just Business to Business but Britain 2 Bengal.
  • The Global CEO of Mitsubishi Chemicals: The special affinity between the people of Bengal and Japan continues. We have had privilege of meeting the Honourable CM whenever there was a need and received her support and assistance. I sincerely hope this Summit will be a new dawn in Japan-Bengal relations.
  • Representatives of Changi International Airport: We will continue our relationship with West Bengal. We will continue our relationship with West Bengal.
  • Representative from the USA: We will continue our relationship with West Bengal. My wife and I want to start a Baul village in Bolpur.
  •  Representatives of Scomi group: West Bengal worked very fast to respond to our request. That is why we are here today. West Bengal worked very fast to respond to our request. That is why we are here today. We are looking forward to forge new relationships
  • The South Korean Ambassador:  We are witnessing a very positive change happening in West Bengal. Bengal is destined to become a major hub of Eastern India. State has all that it takes to become an investor-destination. The business-friendly measures taken by WB Govt will help the State in becoming a major investment destination. As Ambassador I would like to see Korean investment increasing in West Bengal. There is a scope for West Bengal and Korea to partner in the SME sector.
  • Business Delegation from Bangladesh: I am accompanying more than 25 entrepreneurs who would love to invest in West Bengal. West Bengal can be our backward link in export of garments and raw materials. The first private sector industrial park by Bangladesh will be set up in Kolkata. Didi is coming to Dhaka in February. We wish to hold a business meet during the visit.
  • Delegate from Kunming, China addressed issues on trade imbalances.
  • President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce: Bengal and Nepal share a traditional and historical friendship. We request the Honourable Chief Minister to visit Nepal.

 

Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee addressed the Bengal Global Business Summit at the end of the first day. She took the opportunity to thank all the foreign delegates and the captains of the Industry. Here is what she said:

  • The main message today was ‘come to Bengal, ride the growth.’
  • Our infrastructure is ready. Our resources are ready. Our labour is ready.
  • 14 speakers addressed the morning session and 10 speakers spoke in the afternoon.
  • Discussion will continue tomorrow morning. Any clarification can be taken care of, by officials.
  • I salute my captains of industry. New things are happening in Bengal. This is a Beautiful Bengal.
  • Union Minister Gadkari ji announced projects worth Rs 21000 crore. SAIL announced projects worth Rs 40000 crore.
  • Bengal is always environment-friendly.Thank you to all the delegates who have come here.
  • To all the delegates, my message is, we are deeply obliged.