Mamata to address packed hall at Oxford University on women’s empowerment
Times of India | 27 March 2025
123 Kolkata: CM Mamata Banerjee is set to address a packed hall in Oxford University's Kellogg College on Thursday evening, with sources saying all 200 seats for the audience are booked, and provisions are being made to accommodate another 200 in an adjacent hall who will be able to view the speech virtually.
Banerjee will deliver a lecture on ‘Empowerment of Women in Bengal and its Success'. After the lecture, she will have an interactive session with Professor Jonathan Michie OBE, pro vice-chancellor of Oxford University and president of Kellogg College, as well as Karan Faridoon Bilimoria, known as Baron Billimoria, a member of the House of Lords and former chancellor of the University of Birmingham.
Michie had invited the CM to Oxford when he came to BGBS in Nov 2023. The programme was initially slotted for June 2024 but later delayed.
It was learnt that many Oxford University students wanted to attend the event, so arrangements for a virtual viewing were made due to scarcity of space.
On Wednesday, Banerjee took a walk in London streets was accompanied by Sourav Ganguly's wife Dona Ganguly. Ficci and WBIDC arranged a series of B2G meetings with some leading companies in the UK. The meetings were held to explore potential collaborations and investment opportunities aimed at strengthening economic and industrial ties between Bengal and the UK. Chief secretary Manoj Pant and Vandana Yadav, principal secretary, industry, commerce & enterprises, were present.
According to sources, Steven Flaherty, CEO of Barclays; Martin Wright, chairman of Gravitricity; Scott Johnstone, CEO of Scottish Lifescience Association; Henry Knowles, on the board of directors of Vesuvius India, and general secretary of the Vesuvius group were among those at the meetings.
It was learnt that Barclays would explore the possibility of setting up a Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Bengal. Incidentally, Global Foundry, one of the world leaders in semiconductors, has already announced a GCC in the state. Gravitricity, an energy storage technology company, will look into utilising abandoned mineshafts. The Scottish Lifescience Association will explore JVs/collaborations in the manufacturing of medical devices, diagnostics, digital health systems, pharma, etc. Vesuvius, which has a plant in Taratala, has discussed an expansion plan in Bengal.
Kolkata: CM Mamata Banerjee is set to address a packed hall in Oxford University's Kellogg College on Thursday evening, with sources saying all 200 seats for the audience are booked, and provisions are being made to accommodate another 200 in an adjacent hall who will be able to view the speech virtually.
Banerjee will deliver a lecture on ‘Empowerment of Women in Bengal and its Success'. After the lecture, she will have an interactive session with Professor Jonathan Michie OBE, pro vice-chancellor of Oxford University and president of Kellogg College, as well as Karan Faridoon Bilimoria, known as Baron Billimoria, a member of the House of Lords and former chancellor of the University of Birmingham.
Michie had invited the CM to Oxford when he came to BGBS in Nov 2023. The programme was initially slotted for June 2024 but later delayed.
It was learnt that many Oxford University students wanted to attend the event, so arrangements for a virtual viewing were made due to scarcity of space.
On Wednesday, Banerjee took a walk in London streets was accompanied by Sourav Ganguly's wife Dona Ganguly. Ficci and WBIDC arranged a series of B2G meetings with some leading companies in the UK. The meetings were held to explore potential collaborations and investment opportunities aimed at strengthening economic and industrial ties between Bengal and the UK. Chief secretary Manoj Pant and Vandana Yadav, principal secretary, industry, commerce & enterprises, were present.
According to sources, Steven Flaherty, CEO of Barclays; Martin Wright, chairman of Gravitricity; Scott Johnstone, CEO of Scottish Lifescience Association; Henry Knowles, on the board of directors of Vesuvius India, and general secretary of the Vesuvius group were among those at the meetings.
It was learnt that Barclays would explore the possibility of setting up a Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Bengal. Incidentally, Global Foundry, one of the world leaders in semiconductors, has already announced a GCC in the state. Gravitricity, an energy storage technology company, will look into utilising abandoned mineshafts. The Scottish Lifescience Association will explore JVs/collaborations in the manufacturing of medical devices, diagnostics, digital health systems, pharma, etc. Vesuvius, which has a plant in Taratala, has discussed an expansion plan in Bengal.