Top News
Bengal can attract Rs 5000 cr investment in logistics by 2020: Minister
Kolkata, Nov 24 (IANS) Seeking suggestions from prospective investors to make its newly-announced logistics policy more investor-friendly, West Bengal Finance and Industry Minister Amit Mitra on Saturday said the state, according to a report, could attract about Rs 5000 investment in the logistics hub by 2020.
“A report suggested that the state could attract investment of Rs 5,000 crore by 2020 in logistics hubs and this would provide huge employment opportunities,” he said on the sidelines of the Logistics Colloquium 2018, organised by CII.
The state had recently rolled out ‘Logistics Park Development and Promotion Policy of West Bengal 2018’.
The report ‘Positioning West Bengal as a key Logistics Hub’– prepared by KPMG — suggested that the state has a huge potential to emerge as the logistics hub of the entire eastern and north-eastern region of the country.
The Indian logistics sector is likely to grow from $160 billion in 2017 to $215 billion by 2020. This attractive growth is expected to be a consequence of the introduction of GST, growth in manufacturing, emergence of new industrial growth centres and increase in government investments in key infrastructure, among others, said the report which was released on Saturday.
“According to estimates, the market size of the West Bengal Logistics sector will reach US$ 20 billion by 2020,” it said.
Five potential sites in West Bengal offer the opportunity to develop end-to-end logistics parks with multi-modal capabilities. Cumulatively, these five locations – Dankuni, Durgapur, Tajpur, Malda city and Siliguri – have the potential to mobilise investments worth US$1.5 billion and generate as many as 30,000 direct jobs and up to nearly one lakh indirect jobs, the report said.
West Bengal is looking forward to attract investments in modern multi-modal logistics parks with features such as automated storage systems, multi-tiered warehouses and solar-powered technologies.
Mitra emphasised that the logistics geography is “skipping forward” and the waterways have a huge scope in the state with “295 rivers” and it is one of the top states of the country in terms of density, reach and mix.
He urged the industry to look at the Andal airport as a cargo hub with its zero Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) tax.
–IANS
bdc/prs
Top News
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.