Bengal's food-processing sector attracts Rs 2000cr investment

Font Size

Print

Feedback

Email

Discuss

Save & Share Article

What’s this?

Digg	My Yahoo	Fark
del.icio.us	Newsvine	Reddit

Rate This Article

Kolkata, Mar 26 Investment in the food-processing sector in West Bengal has risen to almost Rs 2,000 crore over the last few years, said state commerce and industry minister Nirupam Sen.

"Investment in the food-processing sector in the state is the third largest, next to iron & steel and petrochemicals," said Sen.

The composite industrial park for food processing in Sankrail (Howrah) was completed last year. "The promoters are now looking for expansion," Sen said. The first phase saw an investment of Rs 110 crore, while Rs 250 crore will be spent on the expansion. Three food parks are being planned. One is under construction in Malda.

The minister was present at the foundation stone-laying ceremony for a mega food park at Amtala in South 24-Parganas. The park---a joint venture between the Salarpuria group, the Eden City group and the West Bengal Infrastructure Development Corp---will come up on 125 acres, with 85 acres earmarked for food processing.

The park will have cold storages & reefer vans, warehousing facilities and a truck terminal, apart from a krishi bazaar with marketing yards for agricultural products.

"Initial investment for the project is Rs 150 crore, which includes roads, a high-tension power supply and distribution system, a sewerage treatment plant and a solid waste management system," said Indrajit De, chairman of the Eden City group. "Another Rs 150 crore will be invested on building supporting infrastructure," he said.