London, July 29: Swraj Paul, the Indian-origin British businessman whose company Caparo had an auto ancillary unit in Singur, today promised Mamata Banerjee that his firm would consider setting up a plant in Bengal to manufacture a compact sports car for the Indian market.

"Our company has a sports car, Caparo T1, but it may not be suitable for the Indian market because of the price. We are in the process of designing a cheaper sports car and we will consider Bengal for setting up a plant once the designing of the car is done," Paul said.

Mamata today went to Paul's apartment along with some businessmen from Bengal before heading for the airport to catch a flight to India. Several prominent Indian-origin industrialists were also present at Paul's home.

As Paul was making the announcement to consider Bengal for a sports car, which is generally highly priced, Mamata, who had opposed Tata Motors' cheap-car project for forcible land acquisition, sat next to him wearing a smile.

While a promise of an auto plant - without any details about the price of the product, land requirement, investment quantum and project deadline - cannot compensate for the loss Bengal suffered after Tata Motors was forced to shift its plant to Gujarat, it may be music to Mamata's ears that someone is still considering her state to make cars.

The promise by Paul, a Labour politician and former deputy Speaker in the House of Lords, is likely to help Mamata battle the image problem of the state. The Caparo Group is one of the leading manufacturers of steel tubes, merchant bars and various high-value engineering products. Caparo Vehicle Technologies produces Caparo T1, a two-seat rear-wheel drive Formula One car that is often referred to as a Supercar by racing enthusiasts.

Paul's company still has 18 acres in Singur, where it had started production of equipment before Mamata's anti-land acquisition movement forced Tata Motors to shift its Nano plant out of Bengal.

"A few unfortunate things happen, but that's life," Paul said while referring to the Singur controversy.

But he made it a point to underscore that the Bengal government was making sincere efforts to develop industry in the state and pledged all support to the initiative.

He also promised that he would consider doing something for the zoo in Calcutta and help in forging tie-ups between academic institutes in India and the UK.

"I am from Bengal and I am proud of Bengal and will do whatever I can for the state," he told Mamata.

The chief minister urged Paul to tell his friends in the UK to consider Bengal as an investment destination.

Mamata said she would have to get back to the St James' Court, a Taj hotel, because " amar suitcase gochhate hobe (I have to pack my suitcase)". She took her leave of Paul and left in a tiny car, eschewing the swanky limousines.