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200522 August:
The Chief Minister, Mr BuddhadebBhattacharjee, today left for Jakartha despite thestate facing a controversy about allotment of agri-cultural land for industrial use. The chief ministerhas gone to finalise a Rs 50,000 crore deal withIndonesia’s Salim Group for setting up industry onsome 5,100 acres in south 24-Parganas afterobtaining the clearance from the CPI(M) Politburoand the state leadership. A 22-member tradedelegation from the state also accompanied thechief minister. Before leaving Mr Bhattacharjeesaid in the changing political and economicsituations in the world, there was no otheralternative with us but to rely on the foreigninvestment and the capitalist market for the rapidindustrial growth in Bengal. He, however, made itclear the interest of the state and the working classpeople would not be sacrificed in any way. Heclaimed the Salem would not only set up a newindustrial state in Bengal but it would provide over50,000 jobs to the unemployed youth in theimmed-iate future.
27 August:
West Bengal Chief Minister, Bud-dhadeb Bhattacharjee, who yesterday conclud-eda five-day visit to Singapore and Indonesia, briefedtop political leaders in these two countries aboutthe State Government's "economic program-mme"and his "political thinking" in the present milieu ofglobalisation. With the West Bengal Chief Minister,Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, conveying a politicalmes-sage to the international business communitythat his Government is determined to stay on its"reform" course, a memorandum of understanding(MoU) has been signed in Jakarta for an"industrial-park" project, with foreign collaboration,in the State. He said that his government wantedforeign direct investments (FDI) and private capitalfor industrial and infrastructure projects in theState. The MoU for an industrial-park project wassigned on 25th night between the Salim Group, anIndonesian business house, and the West BengalIndustrial Development Corporation. Under theMoU, essentially a "state-ment of intent" on bothsides, the Indonesian group will play the deve-loper's role for promoting an industrial park, in thenature of a special economic zone, in WestBengal. A formal and final agreement, including adetailed project report, will be negotiated on thebasis of the present MoU, according to officials.
200614 June:
Mr. Beni Santosso, chairman of theSalim group landed in Kolkata tonight. He will beflown to Haldia in the next morning. According to aHaldia Development Authority (HDA) source, MrSantosso will discuss with them Haldia’s industrialpotential and the feasibility of setting up an SEZ atNandigram, on the banks of the river Haldi. MrSantoso visited construction sites of the KolkataWest International City at Howrah and Mahabharattwo-wheeler factory at Uluberia.
15 June:
Mr Santoso arrived in Haldia at noontoday. Mr Lakhsman Seth, CPI-M MP and chai-rman of Haldia Development Authority, showed MrSantoso the land that has been proposed forallotment to the Salim Group for its projects. Mr.Santoso inspected land at Barhsundara, nearNational Highway No. 41 and at Dakshinchak nearBalughata -- the site of the proposed bridge overthe river Haldi. He also viewed Nandigram fromJawahar Towers at Haldia Dock Complex. Later,he visited Tentulberia, the proposed site for theRaichak-Kukrahati bridge over the river Hooghly.Speaking to reporters during his visit, Mr Santososaid: “We will require 27,000 acres of land atHaldia for developing an SEZ. I have spoken to thedeveloping authority here and tomorrow I willdiscuss it with the chief minister, Mr BuddhadebBhattacharjee.” Mr Seth later said that Mr Santosowas satisfied with the land he had inspected here.“The atmosphere here is conducive to industrialdevelopment,” he said. The government willprovide Salim Group 15,000 acre of land atNandigram and 12,000 acre at Haldia for the SEZ.The group will develop the SEZ at Haldia and drawinvestors to it through their international contacts,he said. Mr Set also said that once the SEZ isoperational here, Haldia will figure in the list ofpremier industrial towns in the country and theworld. The much sought-after SEZ will come up atsoon, he said -- Mr Santoso’s visit had put the sealon it.
16 June:
The Indonesia-based conglomerate,Salim Group, proposes to invest in a specialeconomic zone [SEZ] in Haldia in West Bengal'sPurba Midnapore district and has sought part-icipation in the chemical hub that is to come up inthe port town. The Chairman of the Salim Group,Benny Santoso, met the West Bengal ChiefMinister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, here todayand discussed its SEZ proposal, part of acomposite plan that includes the setting up ofseveral infrastructure projects in different parts ofthe State. The projects include the construction ofa bridge over the Hooghly, a highway linking theSouth and North 24 Parganas districts and thesetting up of a knowledge city and a health city inNorth 24 Parganas. The Indonesian conglomeratehas sought from the State Government 35,000acres for its different projects. The SEZ, along withthe necessary social infrastructure around it, isexpected to come up over 25,000 acres.Mr. Santosso had visited the proposed site forthe SEZ yesterday. A final agreement for thedifferent projects involving the Salim Group isexpected to be signed by July 30 after a detailedproject report is submitted by the conglomerate tothe State government. A memorandum of under-standing for the composite plan had been signedearlier. The group is also seeking participation inthe proposed chemical hub in Haldia. The projecthad been discussed at meetings between theChief Minister and the Union Petroleum Minister,Murli Deora, as well as officials of the Indian OilCorporation.
31 July:
West Bengal today signed an agree-ment with the Salim Group of Indonesia toimplement various developmental projects, inclu-ding what is stated to be the largest infrastructureproject undertaken by any State. But the DetailedProject Report for a Rs 200-billion outlay over 15years on 40,000 acres of land is still not available.Negotiations have been going on for two years.
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