Bengal will be hosting a Global Business Summit in partnership with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce, from 7-9 January 2016, in Kolkata at the Milan Mela grounds on E M Bypass.
The summit will focus on West Bengal's capability and readiness to take on bigger and greater business challenges. With the aim to fulfill aspirations, the vision is to establish an image of Bengal that embodies the essence of a new, business-ready Bengal.
The summit promises to guide the State towards greater avenues of business possibilities by implementing technology, policies, practice and strategic investments.
Armed with a vision for the State's vibrant and diverse sectors this three-day long summit will seek to open up new business possibilities. Seeking to partner with the business community, investors and intellectual capital from outside the State and the Country, the Summit will aim to encourage investments in a range of areas that will trigger a journey of growth and progress in the years to come.
While there will be platforms for sharing experiences of doing business in Bengal by major industry players, there will also be presentations from overseas and national investors.
Describing West Bengal as India's gateway to South East Asia, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at Bengal Global Business Summit 2015 in Kolkata earlier this year had said: "West Bengal has several strengths. It's strategically located, it's one of the most important cities of India and perhaps the most important city of eastern India. It's our gateway to Southeast Asia...”
21 Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) were signed with the UK in health, education and urban development industry, when Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited London in July.
During the visit, Priti Patel, the UK Employment Minister addressing a gathering of delegates said, "For 34 years, West Bengal languished under Communist rule. The state had tremendous potential, but that potential remained unfulfilled... I am delighted to say that things are changing fast. Today, West Bengal is on the move.
"Under Mamata Banerjee's leadership the state is enjoying a renaissance and its potential is beginning to be realised.
"The Prime Minister was impressed. It was clear to him this was a state - and a Chief Minister - that we could do business with. That's why he invited Ms Banerjee to visit London.”
The MoUs included academic exchange programmes between the University of Cambridge and Presidency University, Kolkata, in the areas of Arts and Humanities and between London-based School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and Presidency for studying Bangla as a language.
In the health sector, a MoU was signed between the Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal, and the UK's Royal College of General Practitioners for technical support to run post-graduate diploma courses on family medicine.
It also included a technical collaboration for development of micro climate controlled bio domes for 'Eco Tourism Township' in Kolkata.
Speakers at the summit will include top industrialists and experts. Sectors focussed will include IT Software and Hardware, Urban Infrastructure and Housing, Hospitality, Tourism and Entertainment, MSME & Textiles, Healthcare, education and skills, Energy & Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Transport services, Food processing, Horticulture & Floriculture.
For more info on the summit see: www.bengalglobalsummit.com
