Retailers ga-ga about city

The retail summit 2004, a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) eastern region event, started off on an optimistic note with most of the retailers expressing bullish sentiments about the sector's prospects in the city.

Kishore Biyani, chief knowledge officer, Pantaloon Retail India, said the perception about Kolkata was changing for the better. Pantaloon was one of the first retailers to set up shop in the city.

Sanjiv Goenka, vice-chairman RPG Enterprises, said the group had major plans for the city. The group was planning to set up four hypermarts at an investment of Rs 100 crore. Properties for two of the hypermarts had already been identified.

Goenka said, the group would bring in the FoodWorld brand once the hypermarts were set up.

Goenka pointed out that modernisation of retail required government intervention.

He listed 11 points that should be taken up by the government. Some of the key points were recognition of retailing as an industry, successful implementation of national VAT, rationalisation of stamp duty and zoning laws.

B Muthuraman, managing director Tata Steel and chairman CII (ER), said retailing had become so complex that many in the country were yet to understand the retailing and fundamentals of buying behaviour.

Tata Steel for one had embarked on a major branding exercise. Sumit Ray, brand manager of Tata Steelium, spoke on the merits of branding.

Ashok Bhattacharya, state minister for municipal affairs and urban development, urged private investors to forge partnership with the state to develop and manage infrastructure and services including those for retail industry.