Government to boost growth in eastern states: Jaitley

The industry in West Bengal will be given incentives as the central government hopes to usher in growth in the eastern states, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Sunday.

“The east needs to grow… The potential for the Indian GDP’s growth lies in the east… Upcoming investments in (West Bengal) will be incentivised,” he said at the inauguration of Bandhan Bank, east India’s first private bank.

Jaitley said while northeast India boasts of oil and petroleum reserves to fuel growth, West Bengal and Odisha have rich mineral reserves to drive their economies.

The minister said he was optimistic about the return of the spirit of entrepreneurship in West Bengal.