The West Bengal government will soon approach the central government over a proposed trade and business corridor in the east on public-private partnership model, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said here on Wednesday.
"We will ask the centre for a business corridor in the east which will boost trade and business here," she said while presiding over the 100th District Administrative Review Meeting here.
Banerjee said India-Bangladesh trade has been registered at Rs.43,000 crore last fiscal year and a trade corridor connecting India to Bangladesh and Bhutan through West Bengal will lead to the region's development.
The eastern state has borders with Bangladesh, Bhutan, as also Nepal.
A state administration official said such a corridor will involve an investment of Rs.2,000 crore and can be developed on a public-private partnership model.
"Our trade with Bangladesh is growing at 5.5 percent and the corridor can push it up higher," the official said.
The corridor, although majorly poised to handle industries related to trade and commerce may also host other sectors.
The state government is actively promoting the small-medium scale industries, healthcare and the manufacturing sector lately.
