Mulford meets Buddhadeb to talk business

Kolkata, Nov 30 (UNI) In an apparent end of bad blood, US Ambassador to India David Mulford today met West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, talking over business and cooperation.

''He is an impressive Chief Minister. I have invited him to visit the US,'' he told reporters after the meeting.

Earlier this year, Mr Mulford and Mr Bhattacharjee hit the headlines by getting embroiled in a row after the Chief Minister described US President George Bush as the leader of the most organised pack of killers in the world.

Mr Mulford wrote to Mr Bhattacharjee objecting that such remarks could deter US investments. The Chief Minister demanded the Prime Minister that the US Ambassador be recalled for violating his jurisdiction.

However, Mr Mulford today described the incident was ''now an ancient history''.

Both of them had a 'cordial' discussion today over the possible areas of US investment in West Bengal.

''We talked about investments in different areas, including IT, agriculture, automobile and chemicals. Mr Bhattacharjee will accept my invitation for a visit to the US only if he believes that it will be beneficial to the state,'' the US Ambassador said.

Mr Mulford said they also discussed the possibilties of educational exchange involving the universities in the US and West Bengal.

However, in reply to a question, the US envoy admitted that FDI in retail sector still remained a problem as the West Bengal Government was against entry of Wall Mart though the Indian Government had already given a go ahead to the US giant to set foot in the country.

He pointed out that Mukesh Ambani's Reliance had been okayed by the state Government to set up its retail chain in the state.

Though criticising the ''US imperialism'' in bitterst way, the reformist Chief Minister of the state had made it a point time and again that he was not against US capital per se in the state, provided it did not jeopardise the livelihood of small traders.

In a bid to woo entrepreneurs, he sent Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta to the US earlier this year to scout for investments by holding talks with major American organisations.

In a matching gesture to melting attitude of Bengal Communists towards America over investment, US Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher also paid a visit to Kolkata three months ago and lauded the business climate prevailing in the state. This was followed by the appointment of a Principal Commercial Officer in Kolkata for the first time to facilitate trade between India and the US.

Though the state is yet to rope in investments from major US companies, IT majors like IBM, Intel and Skytech Solutions are already present in the city.

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