A Bengal Commitment to Boost Industry

Nirupam Sen, Minister in charge Commerce and Industries in the West Bengal government, believes that the state's commitment to encourage FDI has paid good dividends. In an interview, Sen talks about government's policies that have stirred up the industry.

The Industrial scenario in West Bengal within a very sort span of time has undergone a radical change. How did it all happen? According to you what are the key factors responsible for this positive change?
This did not happen all on a sudden. Within a framework of a federal structure and our limitation, we have realised that we have to emphasise on industries to keep the state economy going in order to tackle the problem of poverty and unemployment.
Our success in the primary sector of agriculture has been one of the key factors in this regard; the decentralised planning pattern and the support of the masses has strengthened our conviction. Keeping in tune with the New Economic Policy of 1991, the state govt has also formed its own Industrial policy. The NEP paved the way for Industrial Investment by the private sector in a large way. In our state also. The policy which we formed provided a level playing ground for the private investors and thereby augmented a more favourable industrial investment climate. Apart from this, there has been a sustained effort to provide a better infrastructure in all respects.

Being a successful Industry Minister of the state for long, what are the challenges you have faced and how have succeeded in showcasing West Bengal as the most preferred investment destination in India?
It is too early to comment on the success. There have been many challenges and many more are forthcoming. We have tried to avail of the opportunities that came our way. In our State, we have laid stress since 1994, through framing a policy document, formulation of guidelines, introduction of a number of incentive schemes, offering a convergence of activities and inter departmental coordination. At the same time, political stability, availability of skilled labour force, a comparatively better law and order situation, a non-casteist and non-communal atmosphere that prevailed in the state, fortified our position in the national as well as in international arena.

Sir you also happen to be the chairman of WBIDC and under your regime WBIDC has contributed significantly to the growth of industries in West Bengal. How do you plan to take forward this good work in the near future to further the process of industrialization in the State?
We are constantly trying to improve the position .You must admit the sustenance of success is far more difficult than achieving it. A vision document is being prepared .Camp offices of WBIDC are being opened in the districts where large scale investment are on the anvil. We have already opened a branch office at Siliguri to help the investors in the North Bengal district. These efforts will strengthen the central office in Kolkata. We have also started to implement the Public Private Partnership (PPP) in setting up of industrial parks in different places. E-Governance is also being introduced so as to lessen the time taken to process the large number of proposals and to improve the linkage.

In its endeavour to provide international class industrial infrastructure for few industries, WBIDC has set up several sector-specific industrial facilities like Manikanchan, Shilpangan, Sudha Ras etc. How do you feel these projects will facilitate industrial growth and create employment opportunities in the State?
The sector-specific industrial cluster, be it Manikanchan, or Shilpangan or Sudha Ras or the leather complex, have been able to generate a fair amount of positive response from the sector concerned . All these clusters have addressed the problem of unemployment to a certain extent, so far as these sectors are concerned. We are also receiving a good degree of enthusiasm from a number of entrepreneurs and industrial group to set up their units in foundry Park. Steel Park, Garment Park, Plastic Park and Auto component, Manufacturing Park which we will establish in different places.

How do you highlight the State's Industrial resurgence to woo foreign investors at the time when local media is creating an impression, which is not true according to our sources ?
We are trying to put fourth our success stories in the formation of Haldia Petrochemical Ltd., Mitsubishi Chemical, Asia Petrochem, IBM, Cognizant, Phoenix Yule etc. We are also requesting interested investors to visit and inspect the probable sites, interact with the local people, and thereby have first hand experience of the prevailing situation. We would like to have all concerned seriously involved in the process of development.

What are the major areas which the government has declared as thrust sectors?
We have identified iron and steel, petrochemicals and chemicals, automobiles, leather, food processing and IT & ITES as our major thrust in the industrial field. Together we are trying to build associated infrastructure in the form of township, industrial parks, Centre for excellence in education and healthcare.

Being a successful Industry Minister of West Bengal Where do you see West Bengal in the next 10 years?
As a Minister of West Bengal, I do hope that our State would once again occupy the leading position of being the most industrially developed State in our country.

Every one who knows West Bengal as the preferred business destination, knows that you are the reason for making the State reach that brand positioning. What further broad steps are you going to take in order to promote Investment in the State?
It is a collective effort, led by the Chief Minister. It has been so for the last decade. We are looking Eastwards, too. Further promotion of Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, ever increasing economic cooperation with different countries; building a social overheads and infrastructure like Airport, Intra-State Connectivity more international flight, expansion of Highways, establishment of petroleum, chemicals and petro-chemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) Deep Sea Port along with building state of the art infrastructure like international convention centre, logistic hubs, centre of excellence in various disciplines to keep pace with the various changes in science and technology and their application in the industrial process ,and to provide the required skill to the younger generation: modernization and expansion of the existing facilities and creation of new durable assets in the rural and urban areas. These are the some steps we have taken and going to take in the near future.