Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Friday, Jan 10, 2003
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Friday, Jan 10, 2003 |
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Industry & Economy
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Chemicals Chemicals sector lures most investment in Bengal Our Bureau
KOLKATA, Jan. 9 THE chemicals sector attracted the maximum amount of investment in West Bengal in 2002, with the total investment in various projects being implemented in the State during the calendar year amounting to Rs 2,232 crore. The figure was Rs 38 crore higher than that of 2001, when projects worth Rs 2,194 crore were implemented in West Bengal. Speaking to newspersons, Mr Nirupam Sen, the Industry Minister, said that it was heartening to note that most of the units were in the manufacturing segment. He added that while six chemical units brought in an aggregate investment of Rs 921.3 crore, the hotel sector followed with investments of Rs 468 crore. Altogether, nine IT units brought investment of Rs 92 crore while eight plastics units were being set up with an investment of Rs 24 crore. "Even as the State Government is trying to step up efforts to market the State, it is felt that the negative perception about West Bengal has begun to change." While the Minister could not give the total number of jobs that would be generated by these units, he said that entrepreneurs have been advised not to bow to any sort of pressure for providing employment to local youths. "We have urged them to employ local unskilled hands through the employment exchanges but harness skilled workers from anywhere according to their need.'' The mineral-rich Durgapur-Asansol belt is once again emerging as an attractive destination for setting up iron and steel units. During the year, 16 units entailing an investment of Rs 203 crore chose this area as their preferred location. Referring to two traditional sectors of the State, jute and tea, the Minister said that while there were problem areas in both the sectors, the Government was trying to help the tea units by reducing `selami' - the payment made by entrepreneurs to the Government while buying a tea estate. On the Kolkata Leather Complex, Mr Sen said that by March 2003, 50 units were expected to begin production. Out of the 323 tanneries identified for relocation, 275 are now engaged in work at the complex.
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