West Bengal Industry and Finance Minister Amit Mitra today said information technology giant Microsoft had approached the government to set up a skill development centre in the state.
Earlier, Samsung had signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government to set up technical schools in ITIs across West Bengal.
Mitra was speaking here at the annual general meeting of the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce.
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The steering committee was formed earlier this month after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s visit to Singapore to attract investors.
“Fifty-five industrialists have joined the steering committee, which is a unique structure of cooperation between the government and the business community,” Mitra said.
Noting that West Bengal had registered a higher growth rate than the national average in the first quarter of 2014-15, Mitra said the state government had simplified the tax policy and provided for a capital investment subsidy. He urged investors to take advantage of it.
The state’s economy grew by 8.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2014-15 against a national average of 5.7 per cent.
“This government will provide all forms of support for the growth of industry to make West Bengal the best destination for investment in the country,” Mitra said.
He also announced an interest subsidy on term loans and a waiver of electricity duty for medium and small enterprises but was silent on large projects coming to the state.
Mitra added there had been a growth of 44 per cent in capital expenditure in West Bengal in 2013-14. “Assets have been created by the government which will overcome the infrastructure deficit and drive development in the state,” the minister said.
When asked about entry tax, Mitra said it was lower than in other states and was necessary to develop West Bengal’s industrial infrastructure.