| Amid the furore over Nandigram in West Bengal, Dubai World today announced a Rs 2,600 crore investment for developing Kulpi port and for building a special economic zone (SEZ). |
| The SEZ would be spread over 2,500 acres while the port would require 700 acres. |
| At a media briefing where both Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman, Dubai World, and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee were present, the chief minister said the main task would be identifying the land. |
| The Centre had cleared the SEZ in 2003. "Every body is ready to start work," Sulayem said. |
| It would take 2-3 years for the project to be completed. The multi-product SEZ would host automobile, electronics, textiles, logistics and agro industries. |
| Keventer and West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) would have minority stakes in the project. |
| On land acquisition for the SEZ, the chief minister said the benefits of the project would have to be conveyed to people. |
| Sulayem said the port and the SEZ would provide the much-needed infrastructure to local producers and traders and create 45,000 jobs. |
| "Kulpi port will prove to be a gateway for eastern India and will enable Dubai World's strategic vision of servicing its customers through new and innovative trade routes to be met efficiently," he said. |
| Bin Sulayem and his team toured the port site and visited the neighbouring hill station of Darjeeling to identify potential growth areas. |
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