October 28, 2013
Industry Hails Mamata at Bijoya Sammilani
West Bengal CM Ms. Mamata Banerjee on Monday reiterated her commitment to industry in the fourth edition of the Bijoya Sammilani at 27, Ballygunge Park, which has been hosting the event since its inception.
The chief minister moved around the hall to personally greet the guests. Industries minister Partha Chatterjee, along with urban development minister Firhad Hakim and Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, was at the gate to receive guests.
In her short speech, the chief minister urged the 400-strong gathering of industrialists to invest in infrastructure, including roads. The CM made it clear that land would not be a problem for setting up industry in the state. She also asked the industrialists to beat the economic slowdown by investing in the state. “If you lose, you will be compensated in some other area,“ she assured them.
The who`s who of Bengal Inc, starting from ITC chairman Y C Deveshwar, RP Sanjiv Goenka Group chairman Sanjiv Goenka, Duncan-Goenka Group chairman G P Goenka, S K Birla, C K Dhanuka of Dhunseri Group, Keventer chairman M K Jalan and MD Mayank Jalan to Century Pluboards MD Sanjay Agarwal, Patton MD Sanjay Budhia, Aerotropolis director Utsav Parekh, Purple Movie Town chairman Pritimoy Chakraborty and NRI industrialist Prasoon Mukherjee, were present at the get-together, among others.
Although it was an informal gathering, the CM used the occasion to reach out to the industry. She stressed on the stability of government in the state. “Bengal is becoming a favoured investment destination…. There is stability,“ Mamata Banerjee told the gathering.
“Some people are waiting for the economy to recover, some may be waiting for a stable government at the Centre…. But I can tell you that we have stability here. This system will continue,“ said the Bengal chief minister.
Chief Minister exchanged pleasantries with the guests besides listening to their woes and directing them to cabinet colleagues for resolution of the problems.
“I want investments from you. Our commitment is, we will help you wherever you need help,“ said Mamata. Aware that there are misgivings about the government`s hands-off land policy, she tried to allay fears about land availability in Bengal. “The government has cleared over 12,000 acres under Section 14Y (which allows landholdings in excess of the ceiling)…. Land will not be a problem,“ the chief minister assured the industry representatives.
“The claim about stability in Bengal is true and the results of the successive elections prove that,“ said a young representative of a city-based chamber to an English daily.
After the speech, the audience was regaled by singers Nachiketa and Indranil Sen.
