Kolkata: Showcasing Bengal as an ideal investment destination, chief minister Mamata Banerjee wooed foreign and Indian industrialists stressing the the state has changed. President Pranab Mukherjee, who inaugurated the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS), also endorsed her claim. Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly also batted for Bengal as investment destination.
“Consider us not as the government, but as your brothers and sisters. Consider Bengal as your home,” Ms Banerjee said at the inauguration programme.
She reiterated that despite problems faced due to demonetisation, the state government is providing all kinds of relief businesses in the state.”
“Due to demonetisation and remonetisation, economy is slowing down and traders, farmers and those in the unorganised sector are facing problems. In spite of that, I’m urging all to come to Bengal and invest here because we provide all relief to the industrialists. The state has surplus power, skilled and cheap labour, land bank, land map and there is no shortage of land for industry,” she said.
Stressing on the growth achieved by the state since she came to power, Ms Banerjee said that the no man-days were lost since 2011 after her government came to power.
President Mukherjee, who inaugurated the Summit, lauded the efforts of the Mamata Banerjee government in creating infrastructure and other “necessary ingredients” for the industrialists to come and invest in Bengal. “The state GDP has improved substantially. Congratulations to the chief minister and her colleagues for achieving this. The state was debt ridden. But, this government has managed to keep aside the baggage and burden of debt and moved ahead,” he said.
The President used the word “unbelievable” to describe Bengal’s revenue buoyancy — a measure of economic progress. “Bengal has truly emerged .as an investment destination which is evident from the attendance of representatives from as many as 29 countries in this Summit,” he added.
The President strongly advocated cooperative federalism which he feels is essential for the economic growth of the country.
Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly also made an impassioned plea to business captains to invest in the eastern state. “Please come to the state of West Bengal and support the people of West Bengal,” he said.
