India has invited Bashundhara Group to invest in housing, shipping and tourism industries in the neighboring country, especially in West Bengal.
The call came during a view-exchange meeting between the representative of the East West Media Group and the ministers of Indian central government and West Bengal government recently.
The Indian leaders invited Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan and Co-Chairman Sadat Sobhan to visit Kolkata at their convenient time as early as possible.
They said the expertise and experiences of Bashundhara Group, a top-ranking industrial group of Bangladesh, could come to a great help in the development of West Bengal.
Central Tourism Minister of India Sultan Ahmed said Bashundhara Group could be a role model of different business enterprises including the housing business at home and abroad.
West Bengal can be an attractive place for investment by Bashundhara group, he said. He also praised Hotel Westin, a five star hotel, and said that such kind of hotels can be established in West Bengal.
Housing Minister of West Bengal Gautan Dev said their government will remove the legal barriers and extend all kinds of support if Bashundhara comes forward to invest in West Bengal.
Bashundhara can build apartments in Kolkata and sell those to the Indian citizens, he said.
While briefing about Jwati Basu Nagar, a satellite town project near Kolkata, Gautan Dev said it would be a hub of some 10 lakh people — five lakh permanent residents and another five lakh migrant workers.
At least 50 percent of the dwelling houses will be allotted for poor and middle-income people. A total of 70 percent land of the projected town will be protected as open spaces and water bodies.
Housing and Public Works Minister of Bangladesh Abdul Mannan Khan praised the Jawati Basu Nagar Project during a recent visit there.
He said the Bangladesh government has also a same kind of plan to build four satellite towns as part of decentralizing Dhaka city.
Information Technology and Biotechnology Minister of West Bengal Government Dr Debesh Das said Bashundhara group can invest in shipping, pharmaceuticals, housing and IT business and their government is ready to extend all kinds of support to Bashundhara.
Industries Minister Nirupam Sen said Bashundhara Group is a successful business enterprise in Bangladesh.
Minority Development and Madrasa Education Minister Dr Abdus Sattar, Women and children affairs minister Dr Suriya Misra and other high officials also spoke.
Azhar Ali Saker represented the East West Media Group, a sister concern of Bashundhara Group, in discussion.