N Bengal has seen investments worth Rs 2,345 cr through CII initiatives since 2015: Mitra

Kolkata: Investments coming to North Bengal through CII initiatives in the region since 2015 stand at Rs 2,345 crore, according to state Finance minister Amit Mitra.

"We have received an Expression of Interest for new investment which is worth Rs 888 crore at the North Bengal Conclave. During Agro Synergy in the month of May 2017, it was approximately Rs 600 crore. If we combine the work undertaken in 2015, proposed investment and proposed new projects, the figure comes to a staggering Rs 2,345.82 crore. This is just an indicative figure," Mitra maintained.

"This shows the huge potential of the region. I assure you that the West Bengal government will do everything to attract investments in North Bengal," Mitra said, adding that in e-taxation, the state is number one in the country. Pradeep Gurung, Managing Director of Endeavour School from Darjeeling District, will invest Rs 80 crore in a primary school in Siliguri. Sri Sri Academy will put in Rs 75 crore for a new school. The North Bengal Conclave was held in association with West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), government of West Bengal.

Tourism minister Goutam Deb, who made a strong case for North Bengal as a formidable educational hub, spoke of the need for improving connectivity in the region through development of Asian Highway 2 and 48. "These Highways will connect North Bengal to the South East Asian countries via Myanmar. Improved connectivity with Bangladesh through road, rail and air is also an imperative. A proposal for promoting tea tourism is being prepared," Deb said. The 5th North Bengal Conclave also came alive with business delegations coming from Bangladesh and Bhutan. A series of B2B meetings were organised between the entrepreneurs from Bangladesh, Bhutan and those coming from the 8 districts of North Bengal. The focus sectors of the B2B meetings were MSME, Tourism, IT/ BPO and Education. The Joint Director, Department of MSME and GM DIC, interacted with the representatives.