Buddhadeb

Kolkata: West Bengal is set to attract an additional investment of Rs.1 lakh crore by 2010, according to president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) Venugopal Dhoot.

Addressing presspersons here on Sunday, he said he had held talks with several top industry houses in the country, as well with multinationals, and they expressed their willingness to invest in the State because of its industry-friendly policies.

While farming was the backbone of the economy, industrialisation had to take place. There was a need to educate farmers about this and it was important to share the benefits of industrialisation with them. " Give them jobs or equity stakes where possible and make it a honeymoon of industry and agriculture," he said. It was widely felt that West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was the right man for the State's development.

Mr. Dhoot said the sectors, which would invite investment were: chemicals, petrochemicals, engineering, automobiles, food processing, agribusiness, biotechnology and information technology and ITes. Direct and indirect employment for three lakh people was likely through the investments.

The Assocham would organise a "West Bengal Mart" towards September end. Over 500 business leaders were likely to participate in the expo. Efforts were on to make either Italy or France the partrner country.

The chamber and some other agencies were trying to complete a blueprint for the proposed investment opportunities. It would identify areas of strength in the eastern region states.

On special economic zones, he said the chamber wanted all pending proposals put on hold till the Government finalised a land acquisition and rehabilitation policy. A committee was appointed by the chamber to look into these issues and submit a paper to the Prime Minister.

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