Bhattacharjee made this remark during his interaction with members of the South Indian Manufacturing Association (SIMA) in Coimbatore on Tuesday. As per an official release issued by the state information and cultural affairs department, state industry minister Nirupam Sen who was present during the discussion said that West Bengal is trying to regain its old position of a leading industrial state. He said that there is an ample scope of development in textile sector and pointed to the numerous opportunities offered by the state government to business houses in the field of chemicals, auto components and leather.

State tourism minister Manabendra Mukherjee and WBIDC chairman MV Rao were also present during the interaction.

Meanwhile, the principal secretary of the department of commerce and industries, has said that a report on proposed development of Nayachar is now with Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Ministry and is being sent to other 15 union ministries concerned with the project. After having been assessed by a high-power committee, the proposal may then be sent to the Cabinet for final consideration. Besides West Bengal, Gujarat, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh are also vying to have a Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Region.