The Hindu Business Line : FICCI offers hand to help Bengal tap horticulture

THE Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) has offered its expertise to the West Bengal Government to help the latter tap the full potential in sectors such as agro-processing and horticulture.

The chanber also urged the State Government to extend to multiplexes the "standard exemptions" that are available to their counterparts in other parts of the country.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Mr Onkar S. Kanwar, President of FICCI, said agro-processing and horticulture product exports had great scope in West Bengal. However, a sizeable chunk of the production was lost owing to lack of processing and preservation infrastructure. The need of the hour was to set up cold storage chains and processing facilities. A policy package in this regard would facilitate private sector investment in agro-processing and cold storage chains.

Mr Kanwar said the Confederation of Food Trade Industries, an outfit set up by FICCI, had "expertise of the highest order" in food processing and preservation. Its food testing laboratory could also be used to facilitate agro-processing in West Bengal. Besides, FICCI's expertise in cold chain technology could be used to further West Bengal's scope in agro-processing.

As regards multiplexes, Mr Kanwar said West Bengal had three multiplexes that were operational. If the State Government could streamline laws and extend to them "standard exemptions" that were available in other States, Rs 200 crore worth of investment in multiplexes in the State would fructify in the near future. "FICCI is confident that, with the intervention of the Chief Minister, the issues will be sorted out. FICCI would like to take the investment in multiplexes to Rs 1,000 crore," he said.

According to Mr Kanwar, FICCI has suggested a nine-point action agenda for West Bengal. He said the State Government must lay emphasis on these sectors. These include tourism, agriculture and horticulture, transportation, education, healthcare, energy, plastic processing and exports. FICCI was willing to work with the government towards "optimisation" of human capital in the State. He said the Kolkata port must become a hub for the "Look East" policy to be a success.

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