Come invest in Bengal: Mamata to biz captains

Mumbai: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday urged top business honchos to come to Bengal and experience the changes that have taken place in the past few years.

She was addressing a function held by the Young Presidents Organisation in Mumbai on Wednesday evening.

"Come to Bengal and experience the change. Bengal has changed over the years. Despite a huge loan burden, the state government has been successful in augmenting revenue collection. There has been marked improvement in road connectivity. The rural economy has become more robust," she told the gathering.

Refuting the allegation that land was not available in Bengal, she said the state government had prepared a land bank, and there was a definite land bank policy. " Come to Bengal, and I assure you every cooperation. I can tell you that getting land is no longer a problem. We have a land bank and clear land bank policy. The state government is ready to extend every cooperation," she said. Banerjee's speech was appreciated by the business leaders who were present at the meeting.

The Chief Minister said the law and order situation was normal and people of different communities lived in perfect harmony. Skilled labour is available in the state and the environment is ideal for investment. " We have three things in our favour- good law and order situation, skilled labour and the ideal environment to invest. So why don't you come and try your luck in Bengal," she appealed to the business community.

Banerjee said Bengal was the ideal destination because of its geographic location. It is the gateway to eastern India. It is close to Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar. Bengal is also the gateway to the northeastern states. " You can reach Bangladesh, Nepal , Bhutan, Myanmar and even Singapore. It is a gateway to eastern India. Bengal is now the ideal investment destination," she maintained.

Banerjee also criticised the Centre for disturbing the federal structure of the country. " The Centre is intervening in state subjects, and this has affected the federal structure of the country. It is a constitutional crisis. Our Constitution says that the Centre should not try to control the states." She said when she was the Railway minister she did not differentiate between the states. There was an earthquake in Maharastra, and the Railways were the first to carry relief material to the affected areas. This is how one should work."

Banerjee had visited the house on Mukesh Ambani on Tuesday night, and they had talked for nearly an hour. It is learnt that Ambani has promised to invest in Bengal by setting up an information centre. On Wednesday Banerjee is also expected meet industrialist Sajjan Jindal.