West Bengal still among top industry destinations, says Nirupam

In an effort to silence all the critics and doubting Thomases of West Bengal government’s industrial policies after the Singur and Nandigram episodes, the state industries Minster, Nirupam Sen, on Thursday pointed out that it was one of the fastest growing state in terms of industrial growth in the country.

“Despite negative perceptions, we are one of the most attractive investment destinations in India. During the last financial year, we posted a positive industrial growth of above 10.5 per cent. Moreover, we have implemented 206 industrial units across the state with an investment of above Rs 44,000 crore,” Sen said. During the last financial year, the country’s growth in industrial output was at 10.4 per cent.

“The state has lined up many projects to boost this good growth figures. We are setting up industrial parks in Panagarh, Naihati and Kharagpur,” he added. A 6,000-acre iron and steel industrial area is coming up in Raghunathpur that includes anchor investments by three companies — Jai Balaji Industries, Adhunik Steel and Shyam Steel Industries. The Panagarh Industrial Estate will be built on a 2,500-acre area near Durgapur, with Matix Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd as main investor.

Regarding the Vidyasagar Industrial Park in Kharagpur, Sen said that the Telco Construction Equipment Company (Telcon) — a subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery Co — had started its operations. “For the development Naihati industrial park, we have acquired an additional 50-acre area,” he said, speaking on the sidelines of an industrial trade fair organised by Bengal Chamber and IPFonline Ltd.

Echoing Sen’s words, West Bengal’s micro and small scale enterprises and textiles minister Manabendra Mukherjee said, “Among all the states, we are one of the largest employment providers in the industrial sector. The state has above 27,00000 registered and unregistered micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which provide jobs to nearly 55,00000 people.” He added that the state government was in search of foreign investors and overseas technology to upgrade the industrial scenario.