Bengal business summit to kick off on January 20

Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee may be at the forefront of the anti -demonetisation movement but that does not mean that her drive to rope in investors to the state has taken a backseat. Contrary to reports in a section of the media that  the upcoming Bengal business summit could be postponed, state finance minister Amit Mitra set the record straight on Tuesday.

President Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the two-day Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) on January 20, 2017, state Finance minister Amit Mitra confirmed. He said business delegations from Japan, Germany, United States of America, Canada, Italy and China would take part in the two-day meeting. It will be held at the Mila Mela ground.

It may be recalled that in 2015, BGBS was held on January 7 and 8 and it was inaugurated by the union finance minister Arun Jaitley. The proposal for business was Rs 2.43 lakh crore. In 2016, the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Togbe opened the two-day business meet on January 7 to 9 and the proposal for business was Rs 2.50 lakh crore. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had announced on the concluding day of the meet that in 2017, it would be held on January 20 and 21, 2017. The business proposals in 2017 are expected surpass those in previous years.

The chief minister’s relentless drive to bring investment to Bengal has been appreciated throughout the country. Many top businessmen have said Bengal was the right destination to invest in the country. The land bank and township policy announced by the state government have attracted businessmen who have shown interest to invest in the housing sector and set up townships. The state government has earmarked the area of the township which the promoters will have to buy through e-auction. The state government will set up infrastructure up to the boundary wall of the township.

A big logistics hub is coming up at Baidyabati off Dankuni. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the state transport department and Calcutta Goods Transport Association to set up the logistic hub before 2016 BGBS. The association has submitted a DPR to the state transport department which is being studied.

Mamata Banerjee’s fruitful discussion with German and Italian members of the chambers of commerce of both the countries is likely to have its impact on BGBS where representatives of both the countries are likely to be present. 

A delegation from Bengal led by Finance minister Amit Mitra had visited BMW factory in Germany and some top bosses of the German car giant may attend BGBS. A Chinese delegation will also attend the BGBS. It may be mentioned that in the Kolkata International Film Festival this year, the theme country was China and film makers from China had visited the city during the festival.

Talks are on with a cycle manufacturing company to set up its unit in Bengal. Bengal had opened the country’s first joint venture cycle manufacturing factory Sen Raleigh in Asansol. The factory was closed following militant trade unionism during the Left regime. 

In view of Banerjee’s Sabuj Sathi project through which 40 lakh bicycles have been distributed among students and orders for another 30 lakh bicycles will be placed in 2017, cycle manufacturers have shown keen interest to open factories in Bengal. Under the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government, Bengal is fast earning the reputation of being an investor-friendly state.