Bengal govt in image makeover drive post-Haldia fiasco

With the Haldia fiasco sending out negative vibes about the state to the industrial community, as a part of a desperate image makeover exercise, the West Bengal government is readying to host two investor meets in the coming months.

While the second edition of the government's annual investment summit, “Bengal Leads” is being shifted to Haldia, which saw a rerun of the Singur saga with pullout of private cargo handler ABG Haldia Bulk Terminals' (HBT), Kolkata will play host to an infrastructure summit, called “Bengal Builds”.

State urban development minister Firhad Hakim is at the forefront of organising Bengal Builds at Milan Mela in Kolkata that proposes to showcase the state's potential in housing and infrastructure.

In an effort to avoid the embarrassment of last January's investors meet at the venue which hardly saw any big names, Hakim is making all efforts to make a mark this time. Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) has roped in Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (CREDAI), Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (Hidco), Nabadiganta Industrial Township Authority, Asansol Durgapur Development Authority, Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority, Haldia Development Authority and West Bengal Highway Development Corporation for the November 29-December 1 conclave.

“We will showcase opportunities in the real estate sector to the big players of the sector at the summit,” Hakim said. Although he did not name any industrialists, officials say, L&T chairman A M Naik, Jaypee Group CEO Manoj Gaur, Future Group Chairman Kishore Biyani are among the invitees.

On the other hand, industry minister Partha Chatterjee is in charge of organising the second edition of Bengal Leads in Haldia scheduled to take place mid-January.Chatterjee, however, maintained “the change of venue had nothing to do with ABG pull out” which, according to him is “a non-issue”.

“Haldia has its own importance. Investors have shown investment interest in the neighbouring regions like Kharagpur, Bankura, Medinipur. We want to unfold the opportunities,” Chatterjee said. Incidentally, Subhendu Adhikari, who allegedly publicly threatened to drive out ABG, in his capacity as Chairman of the Haldia Development Authority (HDA) is sharing the responsibility for the meet, along with Chatterjee.

To ensure a better performance than last year, at least in terms of presence of big industrialists, representaives of various chambers are being roped in.

The meeting of a core committee on industry has been suddenly revived. The committee was formed last year to work on behalf of members of the industry. Although, chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced the committee would meet every fortnight, the meeting has hardly taken place more than twice until today's short notice meeting which understandably discussed preparation for Bengal Leads.

However, Banerjee's first interaction with city industrialists after HBT's decision to exit West Bengal, is going to take place tomorrow at government sponsored annual “Bijoya Sammilani”. Citry industrialists, members of various chambers, consul generals and other eminent personalities are being invited, although for the first time media will not be permitted entry at tomorrow's event.