Reliance Industries (RIL) today announced an investment of up to Rs 4,000 crore in West Bengal for setting up an agro-retail chain across the state besides bringing natural gas from the east coast for industrial andother use.The announcement was made by Mukesh Ambani, chairman of RIL, along with chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee after a marathon meeting at the secretariat here.Ambani, who flew in here earlier in the day to work out his invesment plan in the state, said Rs 1,500 to 2,000 crore would be pumped into the agro-retail chain, while an equalmuch amount would be spent on bringing natural gas to the state from the Andhra and Orissa basin.Updated at 1620 hrs: A slew of investment proposals in West Bengal, starting from agri-retail chain to petrochemicals, are likely to be discussed when Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, meets chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee here today.Reliance Industries had approached the West Bengal government with a substantial investment proposal as part of its nation-wide mega agricultural retail plan, which is touted to be an answer to Wal-Mart.The chief minister had earlier stated that Ambani would meet him to discuss plans for setting up an agriculture retail chain across the state and a SEZ. A team of top RIL officials along with local industrialist, Harshvardhan Neotia, made a presentation to state government officials headed by state chief secretary Amit Kiran Deb.Mukesh Ambani's mega-retail vision, which is yet to be officially announced, envisages creating farm-to-shelf chains by setting up exclusive farms and opening a chain of hypermarkets and supermarkets across the country.Mukesh Ambani is likely to announce Reliance's intention to become the anchor investor in a mega-chemical hub at Haldia and a possible buyout of the state government's stake in Haldia Petrochemicals, in which Indian Oil Corporation has also shown interest. (PTI)
