Huge employment potential for garment industry in state: Min

Kolkata: State Industry Commerce and Enterprises minister Shashi Panja on Saturday highlighted the huge employment potential for the garment industry in the state by highlighting the achievement of ‘Paridhan’ Garment Park at Beliaghata, Kolkata.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 57th Garment Buyers and Sellers Meet organised by the West Bengal Garment Manufacturers and Dealers Association (WBGMDA) at Science City, Panja said: “The Paridhan Garment Park at Beliaghata that has come up with an investment of Rs 256 crore has evolved as composite facility for garment manufacturing units catering to both domestic & export markets. It employs 6,000 people directly and 22,000 indirectly.”

She added that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already announced setting up of a garment hub at Nangi in South 24-Parganas and urged the Association to come and invest in this upcoming hub.

“We are not only offering land in our WBIDC (West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation) industrial parks and that of West Bengal Small Industries Development Corporation (WBSIDC) but are also inviting investors to set up such parks. The state is offering an affordable land price, electricity waiver, road infrastructure and some other subsidies too,” she added. Hailing the industry people as ‘Ambassadors of Bengal’ she said that the Bengal Global Business Summit is being organized on February 5 and 6 . Panja assured all sorts of assistance from the government in clearing bottlenecks for setting up industry.

The 57th Garment Buyers & Sellers Meet will be held from January 11 to 13 with 900 national and international brands participating with a diverse array of kids, men’s and women’s readymade garments. State Fire and Emergency Services minister Sujit Bose also attended the inaugural programme.