Bengal seeks Italian food technology

Italy is willing to expedite trade ties with West Bengal on specific areas like food processing, leather, and engineering industries, as requested by the West Bengal chief minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, said Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi on Tuesday.

"The meeting with Italian the Prime Minister has been fruitful and we are trying to identify specific areas of collaboration. Last year West Bengal had huge vegetable production, but could not preserve much due to lack of storage. Bengal needs technical help from Italy to preserve agriculture and horticulture products," said Bhattacharjee.

"We invite Italy to join our leather complex in Kolkata," added Bhattacharjee.

Italian trade commission has sanctioned €1 million for the leather park in Kolkata. It also plans to spend €10 million over the next one year for investments in India.

Italy will appoint two expatriates and about five local heads in its upcoming trade commission office in Kolkata.

Nirupam Sen, minister for commerce and industries, West Bengal, said many tanners in Kolkata are willing to buy tanning technologies and Italy can tap the market. He also invited Italian FDI in gems and jewellery and fashion technology in the state.

The Italian side strongly called for further opening up of Indian markets and reduction of tariffs for free flow of trade.

"Italian trade deficit with India is increasing every year. India accounts for only 5 per cent of Italian exports. In addition to the cost, dealing with bureaucratic hurdles is difficult for Italian small and medium enterprises, which account for 90 per cent of trade in Italy ," said Emma Bodini, minister for international trade of Italy.

Free Trade Agreement between India and Italy, compatible with WTO (World Trade Organisation) (WTO)agreement should not be a problem, she added.

Amit Mitra , secretary general Ficci(Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry), said free trade agreement with the EU, Italy and Japan may materialise within one year.

Prodi said Italy can act as a gateway for India to access European markets, which is largely Italy's domestic market.

He added, Italy is closer to West Bengal than Karnataka and Tamil Nadu by virtue of traditional friendship and cultural ties.

Reiterating West Bengal's Italian connection, Bhattacharjee said, the Italian government had earlier given loan for civic amenities in 14 municipalities in Kolkata, signed a series of agreement with universities in West Bengal and closely worked with WBIDC for studying areas of cooperation.