Talking of investments, have the French started setting their sights on West Bengal as a destination?
We have less French investment here than we have in Mumbai, in Bangalore and now in Chennai, but the image has started to change. You have important investments here — in the agro-food business, in hotels and more will be coming. The problem with West Bengal was that the old policies of the local government were not very attractive but now it is not only France but other countries as well which have had a shift in perceptions because the policies here have changed. I met your Chief Minister two weeks ago and he kept insisting that the ‘opening-up’ story will continue. The Nandigram story which is a problem will be fixed and it does not deter the government from opening up to investors. The message is being passed to our people at home. And then you have the special love of the French for Kolkata and for Bengal.
