The state government is keen to join hands with the Kolkata port trust (Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port or SMP) for setting up a tea processing hub near Kolkata and a logistics hub in Balagarh. The port also is ready to cooperate with the state for building these hubs, which would in turn boost exports from the state.
Talking to media on the sidelines of a meeting named ‘Stakeholders Consultation on Enhancing Export and Import’ organised by CII, state industry secretary Vandana Yadav said that the government is planning a tea processing hub near Kolkata port as there is no such processing facility.
Yadav pointed out that tea is processed and packaged from north Bengal for exports. “But unpacking some of the packages which are brought to Kolkata for testing before shipping leads to damage. Besides, a lot of tea from here is now blended in Dubai and after adding value is exported to other markets. We want to blend those here,” she added. According to her, if Bengal can get 10-12 acres from the port, the state can act as a facilitator.
On the logistics hub, the state industry secretary said that the proposed facility would be built near Kolkata port gateway at Balagarh, as planned by SMP. The port chairman, Rathendra Raman, said that as far as tea hub is concerned, it is looking into it. Raman added that the DPR for Balagarh is ready and construction would start after the first funding round.
The total investment in Balagarh facility, which has a higher draft, is estimated to be Rs 435 crore. The investment required in the first phase is Rs 100 crore. Total land required would be 900 acres out of which 300 acres are with the port while CESC has 300 acres and the state has 300 acres. Sanjay Budhia, BGBS co-chair international trade and logistics
sector committee, said that the government wants to double its exports from the state.
