Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's land acquisition methods in Singur for Ratan Tata's small-car plant have found both critics and backers in India. But USA Inc has only unqualified praise for both men and their visions.

On Wednesday, a high-profile business delegation with big shots from the US chamber of commerce and representatives from a cross-section of American companies said as much, praising the state government's commitment to transparency in its dealings and Ratan Tata's leadership qualities and probity. Tata's decision to invest in Bengal was a sure sign that the sate was moving in the right direction, the delegates said. They will meet the CM on Thursday and invite him to visit the US and take part in a road show to seek more investments for Bengal.

The controversy over Singur was part and parcel of doing business in India and could have happened anywhere in the world, US Chamber of Commerce president Ron Somers said.

Hailing Tata as honesty personified, he said, "Mr Tata only does the best job. He won't be coming here unless it was pukka. We have spoken to WBIDC regarding their policy on land acquisition. They seem to conform to a set of rules. West Bengal has a good reputation on transparency. If you have such a policy and lay it on top of the table, at the end of the day it will act as a magnet to attract other investors."

US consul-general in Kolkata Henry Jardine said that a person of Tata's calibre had decided to invest in the state only proved that Bengal was treading the right path to industrialisation. "If the present pattern continues, I would anticipate greater US investment and commerce contributing to a rapidly growing economy of West Bengal."

Asked whether US companies would work with gram panchayats to formulate rehabilitation packages for farmers who would be displaced to vacate land for their ventures, Somers said US companies believed in leaving behind a legacy and would not stop after issuing cheques to the displaced. "I think this government is committed to the people. You have to treat them the way you would like to be treated. It is heartening that Mr Legacy (Ratan Tata) has invested here and we would also like to leave behind a glorious legacy," he added.