In-Focus : Bengal is a gateway to the East: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee believes it is a matter of “destiny” that Britain turns to Kolkata and West Bengal, which she described as a “gateway to Asia”.

“Britain started with Kolkata as its business capital [during the Raj] so that is the destination. History repeats itself and it is destiny that British business should expand to Kolkata,” she said, during an investment scouting mission to the UK last month.Asked how the West Bengal capital compares to London, the Trinamool Congress leader said both cities have their own identity but there are a number of similarities.“As I have been walking around I see a lot of similarities in architecture and road names. They have Queen Victoria's statue, we have Victoria Memorial. London is an expensive city but Kolkata is not. It is a soft, soothing, cheap city. London is pollution-free and we are fast moving towards a cleaner, greener city,” she said.Walking was the central theme of the chief minister's visit to the UK, as she prefers to explore London mostly by foot in her trademark white sari and flip-flops.Asked if she would revisit the British capital, she said: “I will definitely come back. This has been a very fruitful business meet. The perception of Bengal has changed today. It is set to become the industrial hub of India. The size of investments will become clear over time but 21 MoUs have been signed, which is a very positive sign.“Today the world is a united family and we must walk together.”