Confident Buddha gives high fives to Brand Bengal

Sumit Sen / TNN / Nov 5, 2005, 03:17 IST

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Exactly two days before he completes his five-year term as chief minister of Bengal, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee exudes confidence.

KOLKATA: Exactly two days before he completes his five-year term as chief minister of Bengal on Sunday, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee exudes confidence. He's sure he will be able to ensure a speedy turnaround of the state irrespective of the obstacles that may come in the way.
"Nothing can stop us from reviving the glory of Bengal in the near future," Bhattacharjee told TOI in an exclusive interview.On November 6, 2000, Bhattacharjee took over the mantle from the longest-serving chief minister of Bengal, Jyoti Basu.
"Our one significant achievement is that we have been able to earn the trust of corporates. We have been able to create an environment conducive to industrial growth and the response is indeed very encouraging. We are looking for FDI and domestic investments needed for faster industrial growth."
To a question, Bhattacharjee firmly said the CPM agitation in protest against the Indo-US air exercise won't have any adverse impact on future investments, including FDI.

"It will not in any way affect US investment prospects," he said, reiterating that he will not hesitate to go to the US to rope in investment if he gets a positive response from there. As a first step, state finance minister Asim Dasgupta will go to the US on November 7 and stay there till November 13.
He will hold talks with the CEOs of seven to eight companies in New York. "We are looking for US investments in a big way in petrochemicals, infrastructure development, hardware and agrobusiness. If the situation warrants, I will definitely go to the US," the CM said.

He also hinted at his plan to go to China on a similar mission. "My industry minister Nirupam Sen is now in China. If everything goes well, a high-power Chinese business delegation will visit Kolkata later. If everything works out according to plan, I will go to China on an FDI mission."
Bhattacharjee, though not keen to discuss the Citu imbroglio, made it clear that the next time his government will not tolerate any forcible imposition of strikes on the IT industry by " outsiders " . "We have decided one thing: come what may, outsiders will not be allowed to create problems there.
This is our political decision and the government is determined to implement it." Expectedly, he refrained from saying much on the contentious issue of Citu seeking to unionise the IT sector. "We will take a final stand on the issue at the next party central committee meeting."
He said he had met with IT honchos following the Citu-enforced strike in Sector V and the outcome of the meeting was quite encouraging. "They have full faith in us." The chief minister sounded confident about the future of Salim group's infrastructure development projects in both the 24-Parganas.
"It's very much on. We need some time to identify land and they (the Salim group) need time to complete the direct project report. Come what may, we will definitely implement these projects."

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