In-Focus : BENGAL COMES TO LONDON TO ATTRACT INVESTMENTS

Bengal in London: Come to Bengal, Ride the Growth' is the theme behind a 62-member delegation led by chief minister Mamata Banerjee to London to present the state as a destination for UK investments. Amit Mitra, the state's finance minister, said: “We are setting up systems in place. There has been a radical shift since 2010-11, when 760,000 work days were lost [due to labour strikes]. “By 2013, the number of working days lost came down to zero. It takes time for mind-sets to change but please come to Bengal and we can assure very clear worker management processes.” The minister also highlighted the state's “transparent” process of e-services introduced at all levels, including tax collection, tenders and other areas of services at an event organised by the UK India Business Council (UKIBC). “The World Bank has cleared funds for Hooghly riverfront regeneration. We do competitive, transparent, e-based bidding and the UK has the expertise so it must connect up on this project,” he said. Energy, education, smart cities projects and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were the other key sectors highlighted by the West Bengal team as offering great potential for partnerships between the state and UK. “States are the building blocks of India's growth and Prime Minister Modi has recognised this in providing a larger role to the states. West Bengal, with its dynamic chief minister and able team, is attracting investors like never before. Doing business in Bengal today is easier, simpler and faster,” said Dr Jyotsna Suri, chairperson of the Bharat Group and president of the Federation Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Sumit Mazumder, chairman and managing director of TIL Limited and president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), added: “West Bengal is a state with a GDP higher than the national average of the country. It offers lots of opportunities. I urge you to come and find out for yourself.” The two sides have also clinched 21 MoUs across the fields of industry, health, education and urban development today. The agreements were signed during her bilateral meeting with Britain's minister of state for employment and British Prime Minister David Cameron's Indian Diaspora Champion, Priti Patel, at a reception hosted at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London. “This is a landmark visit... These MoUs will help bring the UK and West Bengal ever closer, and unleash the potential of our relationship,” Patel said.