Countdown begins for BGBS 2019
Kolkata: The countdown for the 5th Bengal Global Business Summit 2019 has begun. The two-day business spectacle will be held on February 7 and 8 at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, India's biggest convention centre in New Town.
Senior officials including Debashis Sen, NKDA chairman and Alapan Bandyopadhyay, additional chief secretary Industry, along with 100 officials visited the venue and oversaw the last minute arrangements. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will host a dinner for the guests at Mistika Banquet at Eco Park.
The officials visited the car parking where final touches are being given. After parking the vehicles, the delegates will have to come to the shuttle point. Buses will be provided to take them to the venue. The main event will be held at the central hall of the convention centre.
It will be addressed by the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The state Finance minister Amit Mitra will also address the gathering. The central hall can accommodate 3,000 people. Businessmen from across the country and representatives from various business houses will be present. Cultural shows will be held in the evening.
The partner countries are Australia, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Republic of Korea and UAE. There will be participation from over 35 countries in total.
New Town, which is coming up as a Clean and Green city, is ready to welcome the guests. Mamata Banerjee had inaugurated the Biswa Bangla Gate. The roads have been repaired and the railings given a fresh coat of paint.
In 2018, business announcements worth Rs 2,19,925 crore were made at the BGBS. There was exchange of business documents, expressions of interest and investment proposals. Around 4,000 delegates from across India and 32 countries took part in the BGBS last year.
BGBS started in 2015 and the sole purpose was to give a message to the businessmen that Bengal now is an ideal destination for invest-
ment. During 34 years of the Left Front regime, strikes and bandhs made businessmen feel insecure to invest in Bengal. Under the Trinamool Congress rule, the situation has improved vastly, with the investors showing keen interest to invest in the state.
A 22-member French delegation to be led by its Ambassador to India will participate in the summit. Ambassador of France to India, Alexandre Ziegler, Minister Counsellor and head of the regional economic department of the Embassy of France in India Jean-Marc Fenet and Consul General of France in Kolkata Virginie Corteval, will be leading a 22 member French business delegation comprising 14 French companies for BGBS, Embassy officials said.
Accor, Alstom, Bassetti, Capgemini, Decathlon and Schneider Electric would participate in the summit. It may be mentioned that more than 600 French companies operate in India.
