VZCZCXRO7427
PP RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHCI #0114/01 1001209
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091209Z APR 08
FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1953
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2386

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000114 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/INS 
DEPT PLS PASS USTR AND TREASURY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD PREL EFIN EINV PGOV IN PHUM
SUBJECT: DAS FEIGENBAUM HEARS PITCH FOR INVESTMENT IN WEST BENGAL, 
HIGHLIGHTS DEEP U.S.-INDIA RELATIONSHIP 
 
KOLKATA 00000114  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (U) During his April 2 visit to Kolkata, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Evan Feigenbaum 
 
SIPDIS 
met with the Government of West Bengal (GOWB) Commerce Secretary 
and industry representatives, discussing investment 
opportunities in West Bengal, the business climate in Eastern 
India, and various other issues of bilateral interest.  He was 
also briefed on trafficking in persons (TIP) efforts in the 
region while visiting the NGO Apne Aap.  DAS Feigenbaum 
highlighted the depth and breadth of the U.S.-India relationship 
while inaugurating the Consulate's new American Citizen Services 
office and our Health Fair.  The visit received significant 
media coverage, and West Bengal interlocutors showed that they 
are interested in further exchanges on the bilateral 
relationship.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (U) In a meeting with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State 
for South and Central Asia Evan Feigenbaum on April 2, GOWB 
Secretary for Commerce and Industry Sabyasachi Sen pitched West 
 
SIPDIS 
Bengal and Eastern India as a destination for investment.  He 
highlighted the market of nearly 400 million people in the 
region, the proximity to Southeast Asian nations, large mineral 
resources in states like Jharkhand and Bihar, and West Bengal's 
fertile soil and climate variation.  Sen was realistic about the 
challenges faced by West Bengal, too, noting that that poor 
management had led to the decline of the jute industry and tea 
estates, and that the Communists had "come to the game a little 
late."  He added that strikes had to be "discouraged," and when 
asked about a threatened strike at the Haldia Petrochemical 
complex confidently said the planned strikes would be called off 
(the next day the strikes were deferred, according to local 
newspaper reports).  DAS Feigenbaum inquired about key sectors 
for investment in West Bengal.  Sen identified petroleum, 
textiles (for domestic consumption) and "any manufacturing" as 
promising areas, saying the GOWB wanted to rectify low FDI and 
bring in U.S. investment.  A key challenge in this regard, said 
Sen with a smile, was "getting the U.S. Government to believe 
it." 
 
¶3.  (U) ConGen asked about the possibility of senior GOWB 
officials visiting the U.S. in the near future.  Sen remarked 
frankly that a June trip for GOWB Commerce Minister Nirupam Sen 
was being planned, but that "the nuclear issue was getting in 
the way."  He explained that the GOWB wanted a U.S. visit to be 
seen as a GOWB Minister seeking investment in West Bengal rather 
than as the visit of a CPM leader opposed to the nuclear deal. 
(Note: Nirupam Sen was just elected to the CPM's Politburo 
during the party's meeting in Coimbatore.  End note.) In 
addition, the GOWB is looking for an "iconic" U.S. investment in 
West Bengal that could serve as a clear-cut symbol that West 
Bengal is a place to do business.  Sen said that the GOWB will 
soon be inviting bids for a deep water port, but that the tender 
would be tricky as each proposal would have to include a 
suitable location for the port and be evaluated accordingly. 
 
¶4.  (U) DAS Feigenbaum observed that the language coming out of 
the recent CPM Party meeting in Coimbatore was disturbing, 
particularly in its acerbity.  Sen downplayed the CPM rhetoric, 
saying that CPM leaders know they can't be so extreme, and 
adding that India and the U.S. were naturally bound to each 
other.  Nuclear energy was necessary, he pointed out, but it was 
"muddled up" in other strategic issues.  Sen said that 
regardless of the diverse political objectives the nuclear deal 
would get through. 
 
¶5.  (U) Kolkata's business community was eager to discuss with 
DAS Feigenbaum U.S. views on investing in West Bengal.  During a 
private interaction with the local AmCham and a public session, 
open to media, with the Indian Chamber of Commerce, DAS 
Feigenbaum expounded on the three-tiered U.S.-India relationship 
-- global, regional, and bilateral.  He fielded questions about 
the global impact of the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the U.S., 
whether and how the upcoming U.S. Presidential election would 
affect the U.S.-India relationship, and the civil-nuclear deal. 
Some businessmen worried about the non-inclusiveness of India's 
growth process negatively impacting India's food security and 
were concerned about India taking decoupling measures such as 
limiting its dollar purchases. 
 
¶6.  (U) DAS Feigenbaum also spoke about the depth of the 
U.S.-India relationship while inaugurating the Consulate's 
health fair and speaking with students at the Indian Institute 
of Social Welfare and Management.  His message that the India 
and the U.S. relationship was solidly based on a foundation of 
people-to-people and business-to-business relationships 
resonated positively with the different audiences.  Cutting the 
ribbon at the Consulate's new American Citizen Services 
 
KOLKATA 00000114  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
facility, DAS Feigenbaum highlighted, including to the media, 
Mission India's visa successes and the increasing percentage of 
Indian students, visitors, and immigrants in the U.S. 
 
¶7.  (U) A visit to a shelter and training home run by Apne Aap, 
a national NGO that combats Trafficking in Persons, provided DAS 
Feigenbaum a glimpse into one of India's most serious social 
problems.  Apne Aap is concentrating their latest police 
training and awareness efforts in Bihar's districts bordering 
Nepal, as they have found a significant incidence of 
cross-border sex trafficking in the region due in part to 
current instability in Nepal and the porosity of the Indo-Nepal 
border. 
 
¶8.  (U) DAS Feigenbaum cleared this cable. 
SURAMPUDI