Kolkata: Leading NRI businessman Lord Swraj Paul today (Jan 13, 2004) said India should invest much more on healthcare and education sector after it has created a name for itself in the area of business and economics.

"About 30 per cent of the country's people are still illiterate and per capita spending on healthcare is quite low. We need to look after these because without healthy nation and increased number of educated people we cannot achieve much," Lord Paul said while interacting with media at Press Club, Kolkata.

"Today India has a successful story to tell in business and industry... it is obsessed with wealth and money at this moment, but nobody is talking about improving healthcare and education sector," he said.

Commenting on the recent thaw in Indo-Pak relations and whether LoC (line of control) should be treated as international border, Lord Paul said he had met Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf in June 2003. "He (Musharraf) talked to me to find a solution on J&K. Musharraf had said that at the moment, if there is any person who can find a solution to Jammu and Kashmir problem, it is Atal Bihari Vajpayee."

"However, it is a very complicated issue. Let's start talking to each other and see if we can raise confidence. The first hurdle is creating a trust between the two countries and LoC is far ahead," he said.

Lord Paul, who had a lot of good words to say about West Bengal, said, "I started my career in Calcutta in 1953. It is home to me. However, in the present context, the State needs a positive projection from the media."

"Kolkata requires you (media) much more than anything else because somehow the city is downgrading itself. Bengal was the leader in industry and culture sometimes in 50s and there is no better way than getting back to the spirit... more so in India," Lord Paul said.

"Please start believing in yourself, believing in Bengal," he said.

Asked whether Britain was shying away from investing in West Bengal despite having a soft corner, Lord Paul said, "I don't think that British were shying away from investing in Bengal. They were not happy with the progress earlier, but now they are working at it."

To a query, he said, "Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's predecessor, Jyoti Basu, was one of the greatest Chief Minister. There are not many men in the world of his calibre."

To another question, Lord Paul said, "West Bengal is trying to get into globalised world for the last 10 years. Old concept has changed. Every time I come to Kolkata, I feel things are moving forward in West Bengal. It certainly has better image now than it had earlier."

Asked whether Caparo Group had any plans to invest in West Bengal, Paul said, "I have already retired from active business, but Caparo Group under my sons, two of whom were born in Kolkata, is certainly looking at India in much more positive way. We have a very positive attitude about India and will certainly invest more here."

Asked whether he would still invest in iron and steel in West Bengal, he said, "I would not put my money in steel. I would go into industry, which are newer and can give best returns like fashion, films, designing and tourism."