India-Africa linkage: Bengal promises support to facilitate any business

Kolkata: Bengal Commerce and Industries minister Tapas Roy said that the state is ready to provide all facilities to leverage its industrial capabilities to play a meaningful role in boosting trade and business relations between India and Africa, while speaking at an international conference on India-Africa business linkage jointly hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Bharat Chamber of Commerce (BCC) on Tuesday.

He promised the state government’s full support to facilitate any business.

N G Khaitan, past president of BCC said that they were trying to explore the opportunities of Africa and for which this linkage meet was held, while Naresh Pachisia, president of BCC, said that they were trying to support businessmen to find new pastures in Africa.

He encouraged African businessmen to look at West Bengal as a prime destination for partnerships and investments.

Vandana Yadav, secretary, industries and commerce, said that Bengal’s Darjeeling tea can be ferried to Africa, and some major agro-processing can be easily done in mutually agreed terms. She also hinted that IT sectors from Bengal can be of use in Africa.

A Ajay Kumar, joint secretary of the MEA, said that Indian hospitals can be of much help to African patients and that the Indian health sector should consider setting up health care infrastructure in Africa, as it will be cost-wise cheaper for the African patients. He said that a large number of African students are coming to India for higher studies and mentioned how India was helping several African countries.

Varun Agrawal, MD of Manaksia Steels, with exposure in Africa, announced Rs 800 crore expansion plan for their manufacturing base in Haldia.

Stello Nkomo, Ambassador, Zimbabwe, said that there is much scope to invest in strategic minerals. Saidu Dahiru Muhammad, High Commissioner of Nigeria, said that a large number of Indians work in Nigeria and wanted cooperation in various sectors, including the energy sector. Malemda Kamele, High Commissioner of Togo, said that there should be increased cooperation with India.

Kwasi Agyemang Gyan Tutu, Minister for Investment & Tourism of the High Commission of Ghana, said that India should focus more on products like cashew, cocoa, and gold.