Bengal plans post-Puja industrial conclave to boost investment & exports
Times of India | 9 July 2025
Kolkata: To accelerate Bengal's industrialisation, state govt would host a business and industrial conclave after the Pujas, Amit Mitra, principal chief economic adviser to CM Mamata Banerjee, said on Tuesday.
Mitra said the CM decided to host the conclave after taking stock of investment proposals — received since the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) in Feb — during a meeting at Nabanna during the day. The state's ex-finance minister, however, clarified that this conclave had nothing to do with BGBS and it would be held as usual. The dates are yet to be finalised, said Mitra.
Experts said through this conclave, Bengal govt wanted to showcase its achievements in industrial growth ahead of the 2026 assembly elections and also send a message to investors.
A state-level investment and synergy committee meet was held on Tuesday, during which the proposed conclave was discussed. While the focus would be on core sectors like steel, leather, apparel and hosiery, gems and jewellery, food and food processing, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, the conclave would also aim to boost cultural and historical tourism in Bengal.
Bengal is going to have five new steel plants in Jangalmahal, which will bring in investments to the tune of Rs 32,000 crore, Mitra said. "Gems and jewellery is another sector we are focusing on, as Bengal has a high potential for growth in exports of gems and jewellery. In 2023-24, we exported to the tune of $1.8 billion, so we are going to set a higher export target," he added.
With high demand at the IT hub, Mitra also stressed the importance of IT, ITes and semiconductor sectors. The food processing sector is set to get more attention, with export of shrimps touching $423 million in the 2023-24 financial year. The focus would also be on food, food products and milk, Mitra said.
Bengal's leather industry exports touch $700 million annually, which is half of the country's exports, Mitra pointed out. Additionally, medical equipment and medicines worth $20.5 million were exported from the state in 2024, he added, explaining the need for attention to these sectors.
CM to inaugurate leather & textile hub tomorrowCM Mamata Banerjee would inaugurate the leather and textile hub at Alipore on Thursday. Located opposite Alipore Jail Museum, the hub would be a major sales point for leather products and Bengal saris.