For Bengal Left, China is right growth model

The comrades in West Bengal, who till now looked to China for ideological support, are now eyeing the Communist country as their model for m...

The comrades in West Bengal, who till now looked to China for ideological support, are now eyeing the Communist country as their model for material growth.

A 64-member delegation from the China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), headed by Vice-Governor of Yunan province Shao Qiwei, visited Kolkata today, at the invitation of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), and held meetings with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, senior ministers and noted businessmen of the state.

This is the first time that such a huge business delegation from China has come to West Bengal to explore areas of investment and to attract investments to Yunan province. In December this year, Bhattacharjee will lead a similar delegation to China to discuss trade possibilities.

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‘‘This is just a beginning. We have agreed to set up joint working committees that will explore the potential of the sectors where we can cooperate in every possible manner,’’ Bhattacharjee told reporters after the meeting.

State Commerce Minister Nirupam Sen made a presentation on how the state is making ‘‘giant strides in industry’’ and urged the Chinese team to invest in the state.

The CM said he had no hassles in accepting FDI in any of the state-run PSUs. ‘‘The Central Government has PSUs and they are having problems in accepting FDI. But so far as our PSUs are concerned, we are ready to accept assistance of any kind. We have no problem,’’ Bhattacharjee said in reply to a question put by a member of the Chinese delegation.

But the Chinese had a few lessons on FDI to deliver. ‘‘China has been maintaining a GDP growth of 9.4 per cent since 1978 and we attribute this to FDI. We attracted $53.5 billion in FDI last year, and this year, it is expected to reach $72.2 billion,’’ Wang JInzhen, assistant chairman of CCPIT.

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The Chinese team signed a MoU with the CII for strengthening trade ties. The areas of cooperation identified included civil aviation, tourism, information technology, iron and steel, plastic and toy-making industries.

The team’s visit was in sequel to a conclave of Indian and Chinese businessmen at Beijing in 2003, which took place during the visit of then prime minister A.B. Vajpayee.