Siliguri-based PCM Group — a major business conglomerate having footprints in around 12 countries across the globe — has decided to come up with four new projects in north Bengal.

“The group has decided to make some fresh investments in north Bengal. We will open an ethanol manufacturing unit and a logistics hub in Cooch Behar. Also, another logistics hub would be opened in Siliguri,” said Nishant Mittal, a director of the group.

The group, sources said, would invest around Rs 400 crore for these projects, which would create employment opportunities for 3,000-4,000 people.

PCM group is known to be a leading producer of railway sleepers in the world and has a number of plants across India and in overseas, including West Asia, Germany and some other European countries. It is also associated in manufacturing of other components of rail tracks.

In 2013, the group had acquired Rail.One GmbH, a German company that makes sleepers. Today, its annual turnover is around 1,200 crore.

Mittal said recently the state government had adopted the West Bengal Ethanol Production Promotion Policy to encourage production of ethanol across the state.

“This has encouraged us to make the decision. In Bengal, maize and broken rice are adequately available and ethanol can be easily made. Also, the logistics hubs are necessary as such infrastructure can boost domestic as well as overseas trade with the neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan,” Mittal added.

In 2018, the Centre had notified the national policy on bio-fuels in which a target to use 20 per cent ethanol blended petrol by 2025 was set.

This has made the Mamata Banerjee government focus on the sector. The state has come up with a policy to boost investments in the sector and is offering financial and non-financial incentives to prospective investors.

Financial incentives include waiver on land mutation and conversion fees, stamp duties and electric duties.

“One of the core areas of our group is manufacturing of railway sleepers and work on track systems. In these days, introduction of high-speed rail network is in the focus of the central government. That is why, we have also planned to set up a research and development unit as well as a skill development centre in Siliguri,” said a representative of the group.

According to the him, they would train workers who would be engaged in different sites for setting up the high-speed rail infrastructure.

“This unit can largely help the youths of north Bengal to hone their skills and find an employment opportunity in this sector. In the coming years, there would be need for such a skilled workforce in the country,” the representative added.