Mr. Narendra Modi’s party, backed by a huge majority, has received an unprecedented mandate for stability, development and good governance. The Bengal Chamber heartily congratulates Mr. Modi on his assuming the office of the 14th Prime Minister of India and also congratulates Smt. Mamata Banerjee for TMC’s performance.
The Bengal Chamber’s Wishlist
Agriculture and Rural Development
West Bengal would require facilitation from the Central level towards technology and knowledge inputs, crop diversification, rationalizing fertilizer subsidies, removing market distortion, reform of APMC Act, liberalisation of agri-markets, along with an unbundling of FCI operations of procurement, storage and distribution. This would require certain policy-level intervention from the Central government.
Industry
Ø Manufacturing Sector, Job creation and Skill Development
In the sphere of industry (manufacturing sector, job creation, and skill development), the Chamber suggests the setting up of National Industrial Manufacturing Zones (NIMZs) in line with the state manufacturing policy and processing of industrial hubs and growth centres. The existing national manufacturing policy should be updated and linked to state-specific needs.
Ø Look East Policy
Ø GST issue
For better development of the state, pending issues like GST (among others) should be implemented on a priority basis with low compliance cost.
Ø Natural and Energy Resources
Judicious use of natural and energy resources of West Bengal such as shale gas is of immense importance.
Ø Infrastructure development, roads, deep water port and pending projects
Infrastructure spending and allocation to states needs to be a minimum of Rs 1 lakh crore. Stalled investment in the power, road and rail sectors need to be made free. Since 2009 a number of proposed railway projects are locked up with the Centre. They should be immediately released.
We wish the new government all success on its role and once again hope it would heed our key requests.