Buddhadeb deemed messiah of Bengal's industrial revival

Kolkata, May 18 (UNI) Finding a new messiah in Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in the fast paced industrial rejuvenation programme of West Bengal, captains of various Indian industry look forward to strike deals with his ''new look'' government for fresh projects in different sectors.

Present at the glittering swearing-in ceremony of the seventh Left Front government on a personal invitation by the Chief Minister, head of tobacco major ITC and diversified business conglomerate Y C Deveswar, chief of Rs 1,500 crore Videocon Group Venugopal Dhoot, State Bank of India Chairman A K Purwar and several other top industrialists like Mr R P Goenka and Mr Harsavardhan Neotia termed the performance of the last government as ''unparalleled'' in terms of creating an industry-friendly image both within and outside the country.

Echoing similar views that ''professional approach'' and the ''do it now'' slogan of the Chief Minister went down very well among the domestic as well as foreign industrialists and major investors in different sectors, Mr Deveswar, Mr Dhoot and Mr Purwar hoped that the seventh Left Front government under Mr Bhattacharjee's leadership would provide a ''more conducive'' atmosphere for industry in West Bengal in the coming years.

While Mr Dhoot was categorical in detailing his fresh investment plans in the next two years, both Mr Deveswar and Mr Purwar said there was no reason that more new and diversified sectors would not come.

''I have already decided to set up a huge IT-BPO unit at Salt Lake which will create job opportunities for 25,000 educated youth in the next two years,'' Mr Dhoot said and also disclosed his plan to establish a colour television component manufacturing unit at the Rajarhat Industrial zone at a cost of several hundred crores of rupees.

''I have already sought a land of about 100 acres for this purpose and would take up the issue once again during my proposed meeting with Chief Minister this evening,'' the Videocon chief told UNI in the sidelines of the glittering swearing-in ceremony at the Raj Bhavan lawns here today.

Showering praises on the Chief Minister, Mr Dhoot, quoting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, also described him as the ''model CM'' whose action should be emulated by all others.

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