Pinning hopes on the automobile sector for industrial development, Sabyasachi Sen, secretary, commerce and industry, West Bengal on Friday said, Tata Motors would roll out its first small car from its Singur plant by the middle of 2008.
Sen was addressing a German business delegation in Kolkata on Friday.
"We believe that Tata Motors (factory) will get operational and roll out cars by the middle of next year," he said.
It is to be noted, Tata Motors project at Singur is already running three months behind schedule. It was expected to commence production by the middle of next year.
"For the automobile industry, the Tata Motors small car project, would act as a nucleus for the automobile industry in the state. It will also provide incentive for other automobile companies to set up plant in West Bengal," he said, adding, "Pune, Chennai and Gurgaon are places where most automobile plants are located. With Tata Motors, West Bengal will develop in the similar manner."
Referring to the only automobile unit in West Bengal at Hind Motor, Sen said as the first automobile plant in West Bengal was getting old, the state had decided to "open up the automobile sector for private investors."
Even though the land acquisition policy of the West Bengal government proving to be an impediment towards industrialisation, Sen said, "the state government will act as a "hand-holder" to investors in the state."
"The West Bengal government strongly welcomes private investment. We will assure them secured returns on investments and act as a facilitator," he added.
Chemical, steel, petrochemical, food-processing and automobile were some of the sectors with strong growth potential in West Bengal, he said.
He said that the private investment in the steel sector would increase its production by 30 million tonne in the coming years. However, in absence of market, the state "will put a check" at that level.
Also, West Bengal is one of the key contender for the Petroleum, Chemicals & Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR), as the state has applied for a chemical hub around Haldia.
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