Once again, America and the nuclear deal may be pushing both the Left and the UPA to the brink in New Delhi but in Kolkata, comrades need to “modernise” and “upgrade.” So while red flags go up in the capital, it was the red carpet here today for a US trade mission from southern California that arrived to “explore” investment opportunities.

The team held a round of “matchmaking business sessions,” as president of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry S. Radhakrishnan put it.

Its members also met senior government officers to identify areas for partnering in various sectors including infrastructure development, Kolkata airport modernisation — a raw nerve for the Marxists — setting up of a deep sea port, a film city and other “business interests.” About eight West Bengal-based companies participated in talks in other areas like clean energy. The sessions will continue for the next couple of days.

This initiative once again had the stamp of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, West Bengal Chief Minister. The CM had sent the city’s Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya as an emissary to Long Beach, California, last year. On behalf of the CM, Bhattacharya, who belongs to the CPM, extended an invitation to his US hosts.

They responded, visiting Kolkata first in September 2007. They met the Chief Minister in September where he told them about his plans to have the Americans partner in the deep-sea port project, airport modernization — and his “dream” to have a Hollywood-style studio in Kolkata.

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