Date:30/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/12/30/stories/2004123001291700.htm

Back Bengal merging industrial promotion agencies

Our Bureau

Kolkata , Dec. 29

THE West Bengal Government has initiated the process of merging the two main State-controlled nodal agencies currently operating as facilitators for industrial promotion in the State.

These are the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) and the West Bengal Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBIIDC).

Indicating this to reporters here on Wednesday, the State's Minister in-charge of Commerce and Industries and Chairman of WBIDC, Mr Nirupam Sen, said that the board of directors of these corporations at a joint meeting have approved the move and have decided that the boards of these two corporations will henceforth operate in close co-ordination till the process of ultimate merger is completed. WBIIDC's head office will soon be shifted to WBIDC's office premises.

To begin with, the two corporations will jointly set up an international standard apparel park on a 216-acre land at Uluberia in Howrah district at an investment of about Rs 50 crore. The Centre has agreed to provide Rs 17 crore for the proposed park, while the balance Rs 33 crore will be arranged by WBIDC. The apparel park is being set up to take advantage of the quota free regime in the international textile and garments market from January 2005.

The proposed park, which will follow the Tirupur Apparel Park model, will have all facilities covering, among others, spinning, bleaching, dyeing, knitting and stitching. This apart, a separate garment park, a rubber park, a foundry park and an industrial park are under various stages of implementation.

Mr Sen said that the State Government was keen to re-develop the State's textile and garment manufacturing sector, along with IT, software, iron and steel and food processing sectors.