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TheWest Bengal government is aiming for a state domestic product (SDP) growth of 10 per cent, twice the economic growth of the entire country, according to its finance minister Amit Mitra.
The SDP for West Bengal during 2013-14 was 7.71 per cent. His comments come at a time when the World Bank has scaled down its estimate for India's economic growth for this financial year to 5.5 per cent from 5.7 per cent projected in April.
"The growth rate of industrial production, agriculture output in West Bengal is above the national average. Our nation has seen growth but without jobs. InWest Bengal, both economic growth and job creation are given equal importance. The Mamata Banerjee-led government wants growth. We want 10 per cent rate ofgrowth in Bengal," Mitra, also the state's commerce and industries, and information technology minister, said during his speech in a banking seminar organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC). He added the government was actively considering investment proposals from corporate houses that will promote growth and create jobs in the state. Future Group's chief executive Kishore Biyani has approached the government for 60 acres for a food processing park. The the total investment is estimated to be Rs 550-600 crore.
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Mitra said global food processing firms will set upcollection centres in the park and source farm products directly from farmers. "This will remove middlemen and ultimately will help farmers,\" hesaid.Also,Anil Ambani's Reliance Group is planning to invest around Rs 600 crore to setup a cement factory on 100 acres of land in West Bengal.Mitrasaid the state government will also offer facilities like office space to banksto promote financial inclusion in West Bengal. The government plans to offer300-400 square feet of space at Re 1 per month to banks to set up theirbranches in unbanked gram panchayats. Mitra said currently there are 742 grampanchayats in West Bengal where banking services are not available.
