‘Howrah likely to draw Rs 14,500 cr investments in next 2-3 years’

Kolkata: Howrah district is likely to attract an investment of Rs 14,500 crore in the industrial sector in the next 2-3 years which can directly or indirectly create employment opportunities for around 75,000 people.

The announcement came from Chandranath Sinha, minister in-charge of the department of MSME & Textiles at the Synergy & Business Facilitation Conclave of Howrah held on Wednesday.

Manoj Pant, state chief secretary, mentioned the overall economic and industrial scenario of Bengal, focusing on the MSME sector in Bengal. He highlighted how Howrah is expanding its industrial activity by leveraging the locational advantage, infrastructure, communication network, skilled workforce etc. He made entrepreneurs aware of the state schemes and programmes for accelerated growth of MSMEs including handicrafts, handloom and powerloom sectors. He mentioned the state government’s regulatory reforms under ‘Ease of Doing Business’ to ensure a business-friendly environment in the state. Close to 600 entrepreneurs from different areas of Howrah participated.

A MSME department official informed that the department is setting up a Common Facility Centre (CFC) for the shuttle cock cluster of Uluberia to provide improved technology for the cluster units. A lease deed for CFC was executed and WEBEL, Fujisoft Vara has prepared a DPR which is under examination. This CFC will help 450 shuttlecock makers.

The Sankrail Zari Hub was renovated and provided with a modern automatic zari embroidery machine worth Rs 25 lakh. A second installment of financial assistance for Rs 48 lakh was sanctioned in favour of the hub for supply of machinery which will directly & indirectly benefit around 25,000 zari artisans of Sankrail, Panchla, Domjur, Uluberia-I and Uluberia-II blocks.