Mamata Banerjee off to London with team of industrialists and musicians to woo investors

Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, is on her way to London to woo investors to her state because, in spite of trying for the last four years, the state has not been able to attract any substantial investment. Therefore, before her 5-year-term ends, she wants to make one last attempt and will leave for London on Sunday for five days.
This has been reported in thehindu.com dated 24 July 2015.

In the course of her stay there, she will attend several meetings, including one with the Minister of State for Employment, Priti Patel. It is expected that dozens of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) could be signed between the British departments and the West Bengal government. The expectations are in the areas pertaining to health, urban planning, transportation, exploration of natural resources, education and trade.
She has a team of more than 40 industrialists and nearly 20 media personnel accompanying her. They are paying for their travel and stay.
However, a group of 10 musicians and actor Dev who are in the team are going as State guests and the cash strapped government will be footing their bills. They will perform for about an hour at the British Historical Museum on July 28 Tuesday and it is touted as an opportunity to showcase Bengal’s vibrant culture.
It may be recalled that last year, in August, she had taken a trade delegation to Singapore to explore possibilities of inviting investment. She had also promised to open a nodal office in Singapore to facilitate their investment. She had also said that it would operate round the clock and seven days a week.
One wonders what has happened to that and where Singapore investment now stands.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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