Industry bodies welcomed the West Bengal Investment and Industrial Policy, 2013, particularly for its measures to reduce paper work and incentives.

While the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has appreciated the State Government’s move to reduce procedural hurdles for any fresh investment proposals, Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) said the final policy would boost fresh investments in view of incentives in terms of VAT refunds, waiver of stamp duty, registration and electricity duty.

“The reduction of the number of pages of documentation, required for starting a new business, from 99 to 7 will ease doing business in the State,” Saugat Mukherjee, Regional Director, CII Eastern Region, said.

According to him, the increased focus on the policy on industrial cluster development, SMEs and public-private partnership will “usher in an overall growth and development of industries in the State”.

CII also hailed the State’s focus on infrastructure – roads, highways, bridges and ports – to maximise the State’s industrial growth potential.

“It is a forward looking and pragmatic policy,” Kallol Datta, President, BCCI, said.

MCC Chamber of Commerce and Industry felt that the proposal to develop industrial units in districts would boost small-scale industry.

Meanwhile, Sanjay K Jain, Managing Director, TT Ltd and Vice-President, West Bengal Hosiery Association, said the Textile Policy announced by the State would usher in changes in the knitwear and garments industry here.

According to Jain, special emphasis has been given for fabric and garmenting segment of the industry, wherein West Bengal is ideally placed to muster double digit growth and shows traits seen in its neighbour Bangladesh in the field of garment exports.

ayan.pramanik@thehindu.co.in

jayanta.mallick@thehindu.co.in

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