AMCHAM National Board's call on the West Bengal Chief Minister

Translation of the item in the Bengali daily, the ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA, March 18, 2009

Bengal government sets up separate committee to process U.S. investments –

The West Bengal government has now become active in retaining foreign investors. The government is forming a separate committee to manage things so that American investors do not face difficulties in setting up industries in the state. According to sources in the Writers’ Buildings, the committee will comprise of the state Secretary, Commerce & Industry, Secretary to the Chief Minister, the U.S. Consul General in Kolkata, and representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce.

Several U.S. companies including Coke, PepsiCo, and Cognizant have set up their establishments in Bengal. Some of them have started expanding their business. PepsiCo has set up a manufacturing unit in Howrah to produce potato chips. Cognizant Technology is building an Information Technology campus in East Kolkata’s Bantala area. About 16,000 engineers will be able to work here. CALS Refineries Ltd. has expressed its interest to invest in the petrochemical project at the proposed chemical hub in Nayachar. AT&T proposed to start its switch system in Kolkata. A government spokesman said, “There had been some difficulties in acquiring land for the PepsiCo factory in Howrah. Cognizant too faced some infrastructural problems. The committee will now look into such problems whenever U.S. investors face any difficulty and will try to recommend a way out.” A delegation of the American Chamber of Commerce met with the Chief Minister at the Writers’ Buildings on March 17 to review the current status of investment in the state in the wake of economic recession. U.S. Consul General Beth Payne was also present. The decision to form this committee was made at this meeting. The representatives asked the Chief Minister about the impact of recession on the state’s industrial sector and whether any foreign investor left the state in spite of its assurance of making investment. The Chief Minister told them that nobody has yet quit the state. In order to tackle the situation he has already discussed the situation with all concerned including the Prime Minister. The government is now giving special attention to infrastructure, roads, irrigation, health, education, and the IT sector.