By: Barnali Bose ( Sr. Associate Editor-ICN Group )
KOLKATA: The Bengal Global Business Summit 2018 that was held on the 16th and 17th of January at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre at New Town in Kolkata drew to a conclusion with the hope that progress in the state will happen in leaps and bounds. It was presided over by the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee .
Distinguished dignitaries ,business tycoons,foreign delegates as well as enterpreneurs participated in the summit. Seminars on diverse sectors such as Chemicals,Textiles and apparels,Tourism,IT/ITes and start-ups ,Infrastructure,Agriculture ,Food Processing, Fisheries and Agri-marketing,Health, Education,and Skill Developments were held.
The government highlighted its achievements at the Summit. Some of these are State”s own tax collection has more than doubled in the past 6 years,Bengal now holds the rank of 4th largest economy in India- up from 7th, State GDP more than doubled now contributing 8.23% of India’s GDP,number 1 in India’s power distribution and availability,expenditure on social infrastructure increased 4.5 times over the last 6 years.
Mamata Banerjee was proud to declare that out of 552 nominations from 62 nations, the state received the first prize for the Kanyashree Prakalpa at the UN Public Service Award Ceremony 2017 for the upliftment of the girl child.
So far as the outcome of the Summit is concerned, industrialists assured the government of making investments worth RS 2,19,925 crore. Among others,Hi-Energy of Hiranandani Group assured of bringing green fuel to Bengal,investing Rs 1200 crore in the first two years,JSW to invest Rs 10,000 crore in next four years that will include steel along with cement expansion,power and paints and Jio is working with multiple partners to set up next generation electronics manufacturing units .
Sanjiv Puri,CEO,ITC said, ” I would like to commend the Chief Minister for her tireless efforts to shape a new economic destiny for West Bengal,which is reflected in the multi-dimensional socio-economic development of the state.”
Mukesh Ambani ,Chairman RIL said,” Every time I come to Kolkata, I see a new Kolkata and a new Bengal,more dynamic,more beautiful and more optimistic than before. Bengal has said goodbye to the slow growth rate of the past.It is now embracing the future with the grace and agility of the Bengal Tiger… Didi,under your leadership,West Bengal is becoming Best Bengal.”
Mamata Banerjee termed the fourth edition of the summit a success and stated that 1,040 B2B and 40 B2G meetings were held and 110 MoU s would be signed. The next year’s summit will be held on February 7 and 8.
We hope that the promised investments will be translated into reality and the mission statement ‘ Bengal means Business’ may well herald the manifestation of ‘West’ Bengal into ‘ Best’ Bengal.
