The way ahead for the state was to set up industrial estates and parks to help SMEs grow
Kolkata: “Setting up big industrial projects in West Bengal is surely a big challenge because vast tracts of unfertile land are hardly available. Even if there are, it is not feasible in terms of infrastructure,” told Assocham president Rajkumar Dhoot here.
Dhoot added that for the industrial development of the state, it was imperative to provide infrastructural help to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through industrial estates (IEs).
“It is difficult for SMEs to create the necessary infrastructure. So if the government can build IEs, it would benefit them and can contribute towards Bengal’s industrial progress,” said Dhoot.
Need for creating a nodal agency “with one window services” was also highlighted in the dialogue. It would facilitate obtaining clearances from respective authorities/departments for land approval. The chamber also urged that the IEs be exempted from Minimum Alternate Tax and Dividend Distribution Tax.
“The IEs entail closure of sizeable areas of land where clusters of industry can grow up as opposed to stand-alone industries growing up in scattered areas. The clusters would not only benefit entrepreneurs but would help in development of infrastructure and the industrial environment of the state,” added Dhoot.
