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US IT firms flock to Kolkata
WASHINGTON: In the last five years, American and other information technology firms including IBM and Wipro Ltd have flocked to Kolkata, India’s third largest software services exporter, according to a report here.
Kolkata is said to be witnessing a retail and building boom which has seen new glass-covered IT campuses, shopping malls and sw.ank apartment complexes springing up. “For years, the communist party depended on rural support but they have learned they cannot showcase rural West Bengal to the world,” Kolkata-based economist Sugato Marjit told a Reuters correspondent.
“It now wants to showcase urban areas for business development and more investment and believes this will win them votes.” West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, adding he had been doing just that. “I have to attract more investment, therefore, it will always be a capitalist investment and I just cannot mislead the people.” He also plans to learn from mistakes in countries like the Soviet Union. “The entire world is changing and we have to change and learn from the mistakes committed by Russia and the new experiments that have been made by China and Vietnam.”
West Bengal has the world’s longest-serving democratically elected communist government which has been in office for nearly 30 years.
The chief minister told the news agency that his party would win the next election with new supporters, which would include urban voters and businessmen. Because of its pro-business policy, the West Bengal government has propelled the state into a regional business centre. “Without capitalism, you cannot bring socialism in a feudal society,” Bhattacharjee told Reuters as he campaigned in the town of Berhampore. Since he took over the reins of West Bengal in 2000, Bhattacharjee (62) has successfully wooed foreign and domestic capital to the densely populated state, known till recently only for industrial decay and communist-backed labour unrest. He has cut bureaucratic red tape and persuaded communist trade unions to reduce the number of strikes. He said, “In a capitalist set up like India you cannot build socialism in one part of the country and you have to accept this.” khalid hasan
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...-5-2006_pg7_18
US IT firms flock to Kolkata
WASHINGTON: In the last five years, American and other information technology firms including IBM and Wipro Ltd have flocked to Kolkata, India’s third largest software services exporter, according to a report here.
Kolkata is said to be witnessing a retail and building boom which has seen new glass-covered IT campuses, shopping malls and sw.ank apartment complexes springing up. “For years, the communist party depended on rural support but they have learned they cannot showcase rural West Bengal to the world,” Kolkata-based economist Sugato Marjit told a Reuters correspondent.
“It now wants to showcase urban areas for business development and more investment and believes this will win them votes.” West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, adding he had been doing just that. “I have to attract more investment, therefore, it will always be a capitalist investment and I just cannot mislead the people.” He also plans to learn from mistakes in countries like the Soviet Union. “The entire world is changing and we have to change and learn from the mistakes committed by Russia and the new experiments that have been made by China and Vietnam.”
West Bengal has the world’s longest-serving democratically elected communist government which has been in office for nearly 30 years.
The chief minister told the news agency that his party would win the next election with new supporters, which would include urban voters and businessmen. Because of its pro-business policy, the West Bengal government has propelled the state into a regional business centre. “Without capitalism, you cannot bring socialism in a feudal society,” Bhattacharjee told Reuters as he campaigned in the town of Berhampore. Since he took over the reins of West Bengal in 2000, Bhattacharjee (62) has successfully wooed foreign and domestic capital to the densely populated state, known till recently only for industrial decay and communist-backed labour unrest. He has cut bureaucratic red tape and persuaded communist trade unions to reduce the number of strikes. He said, “In a capitalist set up like India you cannot build socialism in one part of the country and you have to accept this.” khalid hasan
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...-5-2006_pg7_18
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