Cold storages in Kolkata, Bagdogra

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said that the Union commerce ministry has agreed to set up cold storages near Kolkata and Bagdogra airport in North Bengal to facilitate export of flowers and vegetables from the state.

The state has also written to the human resource development minister Arjun Singh to help set up a National Institute of Science in Kolkata.

"Union commerce minister Kamal Nath has agreed to set up cold storages at these two places and this will help increase export of flowers and vegetables from the state," Bhattacharjee said while addressing national executive committee of federation of indian chambers of commerce and industry (ficci) here.

The chief minister said that the state had already started exporting rose to many european countries and the coming up of these cold storage would help boost its agro industry.

"We are one of the largest producers of vegetables, fruits and flowers in the country, but are unable to reap the benefit due to lack of cold storages and marketing network," he said.

About national institute of science, bhattacharjee said he had written a letter to hrd minister and was hoping to get a positive response soon.