Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday praised chief minister Mamata Banerjee for her response to the expectations and aspirations of the people of the state. He also said that the political change in West Bengal had created a significant scope for attracting new investment in the state.
Speaking in a programme organised by the Assocham, the Union finance minister said: “The political change in West Bengal clearly shows that the expectations and aspirations of the people of the state have risen. I am happy that the chief minister is responding to them.”
Mr Mukherjee further added that West Bengal was emerging as a new investment destination. “Data reveals that prospective investors are showing interest in the state. At least 900 projects involving `6.11 lakh crore of investment were live up to December 2011 in the country of which 3.7 per cent was for this state. Fresh investment proposals worth `58,000 crore have been received by West Bengal,” he informed.
Mr Mukherjee noted that the subdued growth of West Bengal could be linked to the industrial sector. He said that there was a need to improve the industrial climate in the state and the infrastructural gaps needed to be filled up too. “Rapid development of infrastructure is the key to sustain high rate of growth in the medium to long term,” he said.
Speaking in the programme, state commerce and industries minister Partha Chatterjee reiterated the ongoing acute financial crisis of the state. Mr Chatterjee expressed his hope that the Centre would bail out the state from this crisis for which the present government was not responsible “I request Pranabda to do his best for the debt-stressed state,” he said.
Pix Caption: Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and state commerce and industries minister Partha Chatterjee talk during the inauguration of the Assocham Summit, in Kolkata on Sunday.
— DEBAJYOTI SARKAR