Tag: UKIBC

Mamata Banerjee invites UK investors to Bengal

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Mamata Banerjee invites UK investors to Bengal

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged investors to come to Bengal where the government is business-friendly and talent is unlimited. She said this while addressing the FICCI-UKIBC round table in London.

The Chief Minister said there was not only surplus power but the government also has land banks and so, to acquire land is not a problem in Bengal anymore. She also added that the workers in Bengal are excellent and extremely committed and hardworking. She also mentioned the fact that, unlike during the earlier Left Front Government, the Trinamool Congress Government has brought down the number of man-days lost due to strikes to zero.

Mamata Banerjee also said that the State Government is sending government officials to Oxford and Cambridge Universities and to Singapore to train them.

She pointed out to the gathering that the government cares for the poor and downtrodden, and that nearly 90 per cent of the population of the State have been benefitted by one scheme or the other implemented by the State Government.

Projecting her recent feat with Kanyashree Prakalpa bagging the United Nations Public Service Award for Asia Pacific, she said it was an extremely helpful scheme for the girl child and has won worldwide accolades.

Present at the summit were 18 representatives from different British companies, Oxford University and banks as well as prominent industrialists from Bengal.

 

লন্ডনে বাণিজ্য বৈঠক মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর

সোমবার এ বারের ব্রিটেন সফরে প্রথম বাণিজ্য সম্মেলন করলেন মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। ইউকে-ইন্ডিয়া বিজনেস কাউন্সিলের (ইউকেআইবিসি) প্রতিনিধিদের সঙ্গে মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর বৈঠক হয়। উপস্থিত ছিলেন অর্থমন্ত্রী, মুখ্যসচিব-সহ মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর সঙ্গে আসা বাণিজ্য প্রতিনিধিদলের সদস্যরা। ব্রিটেনের পক্ষে ছিল দিয়াজিও, গ্রিন ব্যাঙ্ক গ্রুপ, অক্সফোর্ড ইউনিভার্সিটি প্রেস, স্ট্যান্ডার্ড চার্টার্ড ব্যাঙ্ক-সহ নানা সংস্থার ১৮ জন প্রতিনিধি। ইউ কে আই বি সি-র চেয়ারম্যান ব্রিটেনের প্রাক্তন বাণিজ্যমন্ত্রী।

এই বৈঠক সেরেই মুখ্যমন্ত্রী যান লক্ষ্মী মিত্তলের বাড়িতে রাজ্যে লগ্নির সম্ভাবনা নিয়ে কথা বলতে। ভারতীয় সময় মধ্যরাত পেরিয়ে চলে বৈঠক।
২০১৫ সালে মমতা যখন এখানে এসেছিলেন, তখন ইউকেআইবিসি-র সঙ্গে ২২টি চুক্তি হয়েছিল। এর মধ্যে ১৭ টিই বাস্তবায়নের দিকে এগিয়েছে।

পশ্চিমবঙ্গে আরও একটি উৎকর্ষ কেন্দ্র তৈরির জন্য এই বৈঠকে অক্সফোর্ড ইউনিভার্সিটির সঙ্গে কথা হয়েছে। নিউটাউনকে গ্রিন সিটি তৈরি করতে গত বার আলোচনা হয়েছিল। ব্রিটিশ সংস্থার সঙ্গে হিডকোর সে ব্যাপারে মউ হয়েছে বলে খবর। শিল্পমন্ত্রীর বক্তব্য, ‘‘মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর নেতৃত্বে কতটা এগোনো গিয়েছে, এই সাফল্যের তালিকাই তার প্রমাণ। আগামী দিনে আরও এগোনো যাবে।’’

ব্রিটিশ শিল্পপতিদের রাজ্যে আহ্বান জানিয়ে পশ্চিমবঙ্গে শিল্প গড়ার সুবিধার দিকগুলি তুলে ধরেন মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন, ভৌগোলিক দিক থেকে পশ্চিমবঙ্গের অবস্থান যেমন গুরুত্বপূর্ণ, তেমনই এ রাজ্যে রয়েছে দক্ষ শ্রমিক অথচ যার মজুরি কম। শিল্পের জন্য প্রয়োজনীয় জমি সরকারের ল্যান্ড ব্যাঙ্কেই রয়েছে বলে দাবি করেন তিনি। জানিয়ে দেন, তাঁর আমলে শ্রমদিবস নষ্টের সংখ্যা শূন্যে এসে দাঁড়িয়েছে।ব্রিটেনের একটি শিল্প প্রতিনিধি দলকে আগামী জানুয়ারিতে রাজ্যের শিল্প সম্মেলনে আসার জন্য আমন্ত্রণ জানান মুখ্যমন্ত্রী।

Source: Millennium Post

Expect to sign over 20 MoUs in UK: Mamata

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Expect to sign over 20 MoUs in UK: Mamata

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 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Mamata Banerjee arrives in London for five-day visit

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.

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.

Investment Bengal

WB CM to promote Bengal as an investment destination in UK

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on WB CM to promote Bengal as an investment destination in UK

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wants to improve the image of Bengal globally and market the rich human resource of the state during her trip to UK.

Mamata Banerjee had an informal meeting with the members of the delegation, who will accompany her to UK, at Nabanna on Thursday . The Chief Minister made it clear that she does not have any special expectation from the trip and argued that unless the state’s image gets an uplift nothing can be done.

“No one has done anything for the image of our state. It was negative when I started, even if we can achieve 30% that will be a good achievement,” Mamata Banerjee said, adding that she would try to market Bengal as the human resource capital of India.

“Even globally, so many Bengalis are working. We should showcase this,” she added.

23 MoUs to be signed

Most of the 23 MoUs to be signed in the UK will be related to train human resources in the fields of health and education. Besides, there will be special emphasis on transport and other infrastructure.

Mamata Ba nerjee pointed out that work has already started on some of the MoUs signed in Singapore and during the Bengal Global Business Summit in January this year.

The delegation

The CM will be accompanied by 50 industrialists from Kolkata and other cities. Some top industrialists of the country have also confirmed their participation.

Chairman of Apollo Tyres Onkar Kanwar, director of Apollo Hospitals Sangita Reddy , Videocon Group director Anirudh Dhoot and Matix chairman Nishant Kanodia have recently confirmed their participation. Earlier, the Lalit Group chairman J Suri, GEECL chairman Y K Modi and Adi Godrej had confirmed participation.

Y C Deveshwar, chairman of ITC, said: “I am confidant that there will be a positive impact. The radical reforms undertaken in the field of ease-of-doing business should be showcased in UK.”

Besides the ITC chairman, others present at Thursday’s meeting were CII president Sumit Mazumdar, Assocham vice president Sunil Kanoria, Tata Metaliks MD Sanjiv Paul, Apeejay Group chairman Karan Paul, Keventer MD Mayank Jalan, Patton MD Sanjay Budhia, Luxmi Tea CEO Rudra Chatterjee, BAPL director Utsav Parekh and others.

During the four-day trip, Mamata will have a few closed-door meetings along and visit the Buckingham Palace and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). She will meet UK minister of employment Priti Patel at FCO.

More than 100 companies register to hear Mamata Banerjee in London

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on More than 100 companies register to hear Mamata Banerjee in London

The interest in Bengal among British business houses has shot through the roof.

Patricia Hewitt, the chair of the UKIBC, on whose invitation chief minister Mamata Banerjee is coming to London on Monday on her three-day visit, said that over 100 British conglomerates, ranging from retail and mining to banking, have now confirmed to attend the session on emerging opportunities in Bengal.

Renewed interest in Bengal

“I am very pleased by the turnout.The session will give the UK business houses a chance to hear directly from the government and from business honchos of Bengal who are travelling with the CM on what the business climate there is at present and the opportunities,” she said.

Hewitt, added that she is certain that Bengal will become a Mecca for British business houses in the next 3-5 years.

She added: “The British companies are impressed that the CM herself is coming. The positive messages from the Bengal investor summit in January which we relayed to our members and the fact that she is coming with a very serious business delegation is very helpful. The impressive business delegation from Bengal would be the best advocates of the business climate in the state“.

Positive image

According to Hewitt, around 20 British companies at present are functioning in Bengal -from HSBC and Standard Chartered to BT, Max Bupa, OCS and KPMG.

Hewitt said, “This is actually the first investor road show from India being led by a CM. It is very important that Bengal is seen as a business friendly destination and overcomes its negative perception. This visit will open up a whole new opportunity for the state.”

She admitted that she has seen a “very obvious change at the Bengal business summit“ in January. “Work was going on to make the state investor friendly. Over the last year, we have seen real moves on ease of doing business and on simplifying tax systems.”

Praise for the CM

Patricia Hewitt was all praise for Mamata Banerjee herself. “She is a consummate political leader and has an extra ordinary ability to connect to people.Personal warmth and empathy are her strengths. She and I connected strongly when we met in Bengal in January and we have a personal bond.”

Hinduja praises WB CM’s industry initiatives

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Hinduja praises WB CM’s industry initiatives

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.

Foreign delegates all praise for Bengal at Global Business Summit

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Foreign delegates all praise for Bengal at Global Business Summit

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.