The West Bengal government is set to make another attempt to bring investments to the state with the second edition of Bengal Leads at Haldia. But apart from change in venue, the industry summit in all possibility going to be yet another state-sponsored token event.
As the industry summit is taking place close on the heels of just concluded Naraendra Modi's “Vibrant Gujarat”, comparisons are natural. West Bengal Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee, however, urged media to avoid such comparison.
Mamata Banerjee-government has invited all leading industrialists including Tata group's new chairman Cyrus Mistry. But, the state government refused to comment on their attendance. Chatterjee, rather said, “There is nothing in big names. What matters, is investment.”
Government officials, however, said that there was no fresh major investment proposal either.
About 1,200 invitations have been sent to all leading business houses of the country. Apart from city-industrialists like Sanjiv Goenka, Harsh Neotia, C K Dhanuka, officials are not ready to comment on possible attendants' list for the January 15-17 event.
The state government has roped in all the chambers and leading city industrialist to make the industry meet a success. However, many pointed out, with no substantial change in the state government's policy, be it the state's unwillingness to government intervention in land acquisition or giving SEZ status to IT firms, industrial summits can hardly be fruitful.
“You cannot compare it with Vibrant Gujarat for the obvious reasons. The difference in industry policies and limitations Bengal has in land related issues is well-known. No wonder that will get reflected in difference in attendants' list,” said one city-based industrialist.
Also, with the shift of venue from Kolkata to Haldia, the state government wanted to take up an image makeover exercise after it saw a rerun of the Singur saga as law and order issues led to pullout of private cargo handler ABG Haldia Bulk Terminals' (HBT) from the port.
But, ahead of the “Bengal Leads”, once again questions are being raised about law and order in the wake of reports of political violence in recent times. Ironically, at a time, the West Bengal government will be wooing business community at the investors meet in Haldia to do away with state's anti-industry image, the ruling Trinamool Congress is scheduled to carry on state-wide demonstrations against alleged political violence by opposition Left.
