Kolkata, July 16: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today expressed the hope that West Bengal would soon become the 'economic powerhouse' of the East and asked the ruling Left Front to assume the role of a strong pro-business and pro-investor machinery.
Inaugurating the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry here, Vajpayee lauded the state government's efforts to create a new work culture and environment conducive to investments.
"West Bengal will soon become the economic powerhouse of the East as well as one of the advanced states of India," he said.
The Prime Minister said the state's industrial climate had got a boost with the emergence of new private partnerships for revival of business and infrastructure.
However, he hastened to add that this new change needed 'acceleration'.
State Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee said the new investment environment in the state would act as a facilitator for trade and commerce with the Saarc member states.
Bureau Report