The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Ms Mamata Banerjee is visiting the UK from July 26th to 30th along with a 36 member business delegation and several senior journalists representing top Indian media houses. This will be the Chief Minister's first visit to the UK.
During her visit, Ms Banerjee hopes to meet Britain's Prime Minister Mr David Cameron, although, sources reveal, she is still waiting for her appointment from No 10. She has confirmed to attend a reception by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace, and meet the Cabinet Minister of State for Employment, Ms Priti Patel later at Locarno Suite. While Ms Banerjee is not yet confirmed to attend the UKIBC 300 delegate meeting on 27th July, she has promised to have dinner with Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt, the UKIBC Chair, on the same day.
On the 28th, the Chief Minister is confirmed to have a lunch meeting with the Indian delegates and plans to attend an evening of musical performance by an ensemble of Maestros from West Bengal.
On 29th July, Ms Banerjee is meeting business delegates at an event jointly organised by KPMG and FICCI, followed by a trip to Tavistock square to offer floral tributes to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and to Gordon Square, to the bust of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. She is then due to attend a private dinner at the Indian High Commissioner's residence in Kensington.
Before returning to India, Ms Banerjee is also supposed to meet the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, to perhaps acquire a few tips on city development. Though it is Ms Banerjee's first visit to the capital, a big fan of this city, she promises to convert Kolkata to a replica of London, in due course.
The students and faculty members at the London Business School are planning a high profile panel discussion on the subject “Opportunities in West Bengal as a global investment destination”, and invited Ms Bannerjee as the keynote speaker. They are also seeking support from CII (UK) and other UK based overseas Indian business community.
They are also urging Ms Banerjee to appoint a few Business Ambassadors for West Bengal at the LBS platform, who would work voluntarily with her and the business and industry departments (including MSME Sector, which may have a huge potential), promoting West Bengal, for both exports and investment purposes.
The team is in the process of inviting other panelists, and audience that promises to include a whole group of budding global business leaders and managers, and people those looking for investment opportunities with interest in West Bengal.
Sources reveal the initiative may also be supported by similar students' group from Oxford and Cambridge Universities and London School of Economics.
