Interview/ Tapas Roy, minister of commerce and industries, West Bengal
Q/ The budget gives a push to industry. What is your take on that?
Industry is essential for employment. Earlier, there was no policy for industry, no land policy and no incentives. We are preparing a land policy, land bank and industrial policy. Incentives attract industries.
After the departure of Tata from Singur, many small, medium and heavy industries left. The number is big—6,688 companies left Bengal. We are inviting them; Tatas and those from overseas as well. This time West Bengal will be an industry-friendly state.
The government will provide incentives and other facilities. There will not be lawlessness, syndicate raj and extortion. The chief minister has already announced it.
Q/ We are looking at a lot of things—industry, IT, AI, semiconductor hub. This is ambitious.
This is the era of semiconductors, AI and IT. We have to bring all those interested in these areas.
Q/ What is the response you are getting from investors?
Preparations have already started for land bank, for a land use policy and an industrial policy. In other states, industrialists are getting incentives. So there is competition. To beat competition, we should provide incentives.
Q/ As industry minister, what is your dream for West Bengal?
After Bidhan Chandra Roy, the first elected chief minister of West Bengal, nobody really thought of industry. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee was the first industry minister of our country. Bengal is the land of Roy and Mookherjee, and the people of Bengal are disheartened not to have any industry.
Q/ Will you have the Bengal Global Business Summit again?
Not with the same name, but we should have a summit for industrialists to discuss what they want and what we want. Conversations should be there. We should have a conclave.
