West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said investment proposals worth ₹3.42 lakh crore were received at the 6th Bengal Global Business Summit.
“We have received investment proposals worth ₹3,42,375 crore during BGBS 2022. This is the highest investment at the BGBS so far,” she said. She said that in the first five sessions of the BGBS, investment proposals worth ₹12 lakh crore have been received which are under various stages of consideration.
The Chief Minister said about 137 MoUs have been signed and about 4,300 delegates participated in the summit. She said the investment proposals will create 40 lakh jobs. The two–day summit concluded on Thursday.
The Chief Minister said a task force will be set up under the Chief Secretary for speedy implementation of the proposals. She also announced setting up “sectoral committees’” for agriculture and allied services, exports, services sector, MSME and tourism. They will meet once a month and give policy suggestions and changes to attract investment, she said. She also announced that the next summit will be held for three days from February 1, 2023.
While promoting the State as an investment destination, Ms. Banerjee spoke about the political stability in the State. “We don’t want to bulldoze….. We don’t want to divide the people; we want to unite the people. Unity is our main strength. Culturally you will be very sound if you are united. But, if you are divided, you will fall.”
After coming to power for the third consecutive term in May 2021, the Chief Minister had emphasised that attracting investment is going to be her priority area and the BGBS, held after a gap of two years, was an attempt to demonstrate that the State is serious in attracting investment.
The political parties in the Opposition raised questions on why the proposed investment is not being reflected on ground. Bharatiya Janata Party national vice–president Dilip Ghosh said if what the Chief Minister is claiming is true then why are there no direct flights to major European and American destinations. Mr. Ghosh said the proposals of investment will have the same fate as what happened to earlier proposals.
State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wondered if the proposals of ₹15,000 crore to ₹16,000 crore are true then “where are the industries — in ground, air or under the earth”.
