Munich, Sep 7 (IANS) Projecting West Bengal as a preferred destination for investment, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday urged German investors to put their trust in her state.
Addressing an interactive session attended by industry representatives from Germany and West Bengal, Banerjee harped on the achievements Bengal had made in the last five years vis-a-vis availability of infrastructural faculties, cheap and skilled manpower and a pro-industry government.
"When you think of India, you think of Bengal, because it is the destination right now. From logistics to economics from industrial growth, to production, what is available in Bengal is matchless," said Banerjee.
Invoking Subhas Chandra Bose and Rabindranath Tagore to reflect upon Bengal's ties with Germany, Banerjee described her state as the gateway to the Asian countries.
"Bengal is the gateway to Asian countries like Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. Countries like China and Malaysia are not very far off. So, if you invest in Bengal, you get the opportunity to invest in these countries.
"From cheap labour to skilled manpower, from abundance of power to suitable policies on textile, industry and the likes, we have highways and Asian highways connecting neighbouring countries," she said.
Emphasising the state's human resource, she said Bengal had talented youth and they were working around the world.
Wooing German investment, she said investors would get a "ready market".
"If you invest in Bengal, you will not only get the market from Bengal but also market for Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and entire Asean countries as the state is connected with airports, roads and ports.
"If India is growing at 7.3 per cent per annum, West Bengal is growing at 12.2 per cent. Bengal is doing very well in all sectors. Come and invest in Bengal," said Banerjee.
The Chief Minister invited German investors for the Bengal Global Business Summit to be held in Kolkata in January.
"Within two weeks, we deliver everything from land to other clearances in a single window system."
Citing examples of Bengal based industrialists who are operating globally, she said: "Our industrialists are working throughout the world through Bengal. The state is led by industrialists. They guide us and advice what to do it and how to do it."
Requesting investment from auto giant BMW, she said: "Ancillary industries cannot serve the purpose and it can serve it for a year or two. Big units are required.
"If you want land, the state government can give land from our land bank. We are ready with land policy, land bank and land map."
