Wipro Technologies Chairman Azim Premji on Wednesday met
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and promised that the information technology behemoth will pump in about Rs 800 crore in its campus in the state.
OVER THE YEARS: Premji's Wipro stake The company's second campus is coming up on the outskirts of Kolkata and the intended funds may provide employment for 15,000 youth. Wipro's existing centre is set up in the IT hub - Sector V of the satellite township of Salt Lake - employing 7,500 people.
SPECIAL: Will Mamata's governance bring Bengal more business? Premji met Banerjee at the state secretariat, Writers' Buildings, and discussed the IT service provider's expansion plans in the state. Neither spoke to the media.
"Premji came with his full team. He has indicated that his company is looking at employing 15,000 additional young men and women by expanding its operation in the state," Finance Minister Amit Mitra, who was present at the meeting, told media persons here.
Bengal's debt can be turned around: FM Amit Mitra Wipro had purchased 50 acres of land from the previous Left Front regime for setting up its second campus at New Town, Rajarhat, on the northeastern fringes of the city.
"He told the chief minister that his company was looking at reinvesting Rs 700 crore - Rs 800 crore in the state. The chief minister asked him to finalise the project," said Mitra.
Will invest in Bengal if hostility ends: TataPremji also proposed a public-private partnership with the state government for providing e-services towards ensuring e-governance.
"They work in the PPP (public-private partnership) mode with seven state governments as also the central government in ensuring seamless operation as part of e-governance. He said Wipro will be happy to help. This is encouraging," the finance minister said.
The state has attracted all big names in the sector. Tata Consultancy Services and IBM are among the other companies which have already set up bases here during the Left Front regime.
- With PTI inputs 
Special 
