After permission was granted to the cash and carry business of Germany’s Metro AG in West Bengal, the US has asked the state to offer the same opportunity to US retail major Wal-Mart’s cash and carry division Sam’s Club, according to a Press Trust of India story carried by Asia Pulse.
“If there is opportunity for a German company then it should also be for American company,” US consul general Henry V Jardine told reporters on the sidelines of an event here, when asked about denial of entry to Sam’s Club in the state.
Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhatacharjee had clearly indicated that they would not allow Wal-Mart in the state.
This, he felt, could be because of the state’s perception of Wal-Mart as a retail major.
But the US retail major was only trying to get the government’s nod for entering the cash and carry business, under which it deals with none other than ‘business establishments’.
However, German retail major Metro Cash and Carry received the go ahead for operation of a similar business.
Metro Cash & Carry will invest around US$15m to set up its first ever shop near EM Bypass in Kolkata shortly.
The company officials called on Bhatacharjee and got assurance to get allotment of eight acres of land near EM Bypass for their third distribution centre in India.
Meanwhile, Jardine said perception could be one of the reasons for lower investment in the state, as compared to other states in the country. He, however, added that the perception was changing.
