Mamata in Singapore to attract investments to West Bengal

Seeking foreign investment in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived in Singapore on Monday, her first overseas visit after taking office.

Banerjee, who is accompanied by state Finance Minister Amit Mitra, industrialist Sanjay Budhia, Chief Secretary Sanjay Mitra and others, including actor-turned-Member of Parliament Dev Adhikari, is visiting the city state on the invitation of Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs K Shanmugam.

Banerjee, who is on a five-day visit, will call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong tomorrow, Singapore Foreign Ministry said.

The Chief Minister will be the Guest of Honour and deliver a keynote address at the West Bengal Business Forum on August 20.

The Forum is organised by Singapore Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, with the partnership of state-trade

agency IE Singapore, the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Banerjee would use her visit to Singapore, one of Asia's financial hubs, to attract foreign investment, the West Bengal Finance Minister had said ahead of the visit.

The business delegation accompanying the Chief Minister, who took office in 2011, includes representatives from sectors like energy, real estate, hospitality, entertainment, manufacturing sector, tea, civil aviation and IT.