West Bengal’s investment opportunities came under an international spotlight as diplomats from 12 countries visited prominent Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata and joined discussions on bilateral trade, industrial growth and institutional cooperation.
The high-level delegation of ambassadors, consuls general and other international representatives visited the city’s Alipore Sarbojonin, Ballygunge Cultural Association and Rajdanga Amra Sabai Club pandals on October 13. The visit was organised alongside a business engagement hosted by the Indian Chamber of Commerce.
Representatives from Germany, Australia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Italy, Thailand, Cyprus, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia participated in the discussions. The engagement focused on bilateral business relationships, investment opportunities and closer cooperation between West Bengal institutions and international stakeholders.
West Bengal Industry, Commerce and Enterprises Minister Tapas Roy and Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta also took part in the discussions. Mr. Roy said the State was prioritising engineering, steel, chemicals, semiconductors and information technology, while also supporting traditional industries, export-oriented commerce and startups.
“Our focus is on promoting modern industries through time-bound approvals, investment incentives, improved ease of doing business, and the development of a GIS-based industrial land bank,” Mr. Roy said. He added that the objective was to accelerate industrial and economic growth and generate employment, and invited the international business community to cooperate with the State.
The proposed GIS-based industrial land bank is intended to support the identification and presentation of industrial land for potential investors. The source report did not provide details on the land bank’s coverage, implementation timeline, approval process or the incentives being offered.
Mr. Dasgupta said the State government was working towards making West Bengal an economy open to national and international stakeholders. The discussions therefore combined cultural diplomacy with a pitch focused on industry, trade and investment.
The Indian Chamber of Commerce also released Bengal 2.0: From Here to Eternity during the summit. The book examines West Bengal’s economic journey and sets out a roadmap for the State’s revival, according to the report.
Indian Chamber of Commerce representative Sanjiv Puri Neotia said West Bengal had a role to play in the larger national ambition of developing India’s economy. He said international collaborations could help Indian businesses reach new markets, strengthen manufacturing, adopt new technologies and participate more meaningfully in global value chains.
The engagement reflects the way Kolkata’s large public festivals are increasingly being used as platforms for presenting the city and the State to international visitors. Alongside its cultural significance, Durga Puja provided the setting for discussions about manufacturing, technology, employment and market access.
The immediate next steps, including details of prospective investments, sector-specific agreements or implementation mechanisms, were not provided in the source report. The State government’s industrial priorities, proposed land bank and investment facilitation measures will determine how the outreach translates into concrete projects.
