Kolkata, June 16: The Italian industry has signed six memoranda of understanding (MoU) with business representatives from West Bengal for investment in various sectors in the state during Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee's visit to Italy. "Of these, two are in the leather sector and an equal number in food processing. One MoU each has been signed in refrigeration chain and sheet metal sector," Bhattacharya told newsmen here after resuming office.
Bhattacharya, who visited Milan, Florence and Rome at the invitation of President of Lombardi region Roberto Formigoni, said that he had signed some primary MoUs with Formigoni at Milan pertaining to industry, trade, education and culture. Stating that drawing investment in the leather sector had been his first priority in the backdrop of the new Calcutta Leather Complex at Bantala in eastern Kolkata, Bhattacharjee said at his request fashion giant Gucci had decided to send its representatives here next month to look at investment possibilities in the leather sector.
A proud Bhattacharjee, who led a nine-member delegation to Italy, also disclosed that he and his delegation members were the first outsiders to be allowed inside Gucci's global headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Florence. During the visit, talks were also held with an Italian company for transfer of a patented coal ash control technology for the power sector in West Bengal, besides sale of the state's handloom products designed with computers and coloured with vegetable dye. Bureau Report