WB seeks investment in Agro based Industry

The West Bengal Government will woo national and international business houses to invest in agro based industries in the state during the ongoing five day investment fair inaugurated on Monday in Bengal----Bengal Leads 2012. 

At least 120 companies including JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal, ITC chairman Y.C. Deveshwar and other senior officials of different national and international industry houses along with 12 government departments are participating in the exhibition.

Mamata Banerjee had promised before the state Assembly elections, that if her party comes to power she would give equal importance for setting up industries and development of agriculture in the state. "There is a lot of potential in growth of agro based industries in our state. We have bumper production of potato almost every year. We will provide every support to the industry houses if they show interest to set up potato flake making unit in the state," Arup Roy, state Agricultural Marketing minister told the TSI.

According to him, the state government would also encourage industry houses to set up cold store chains in the state. Moreover, the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also had stressed upon the need to set up more numbers of cold stores in the state to help farmers to store potatoes throughout the year.

"Apart from potato, at least 35 percent of onion produced in the state is being sold in throw away prices due to lack of storage facility," Roy said.The state Agricultural Marketing Department should help the industry houses if they want to set up multi-facility cold store chains, he added.