The Hindu : Business : Chinese firms keen to set up joint ventures in West Bengal

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Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008
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Chinese firms keen to set up joint ventures in West Bengal

Special Correspondent

FAW Group team meets Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee

KOLKATA: A 12-member delegation from Chinese automobile company FAW Group Corporation met West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Industry Minister Nirupam Sen expressing interest in setting up a joint venture automobile unit.

This came on a day when auto industries seemed to be the focus area during interactions with visiting delegations and the State Government.

J. K. Saraff, Chairman, Ural India, told The Hindu that FAW was among China’s largest automobile companies owned by the government. It makes passenger cars, trucks and buses and was keen to set up a joint venture in West Bengal.

They need 1,000 acres and would first check out Haldia and Kharagpur. Ural India in Haldia rolls out Ural trucks.

The other delegation which was accompanied by Mao Siwei, China’s Consul General here, saw interactions between a 15-member team led by the Executive Governor of Hubei province, Li Xiansheng, and the Chief Minister.

These interactions gain significance in view of the announcement made by Mr. Bhattacharjee that the Government had received several proposals for Singur and would announce a project once decision was taken. Today, however, neither the government nor the visiting delegations were willing to comment whether Singur had been discussed.

It may be mentioned that Hubei province is known for its automobile industries.

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