Mamata govt's business conclave ropes in 35 countries

Kolkata: Industrialists and officials from India and 35 other countries would take part in the two-day Bengal Business Conclave beginning Wednesday in the sea resort of Digha as the Mamata Banerjee led government in the state is making a desperate bid to rope in big ticket investment which has eluded the West Bengal for years.

With the state slated to hold Assembly elections in 2021, the pressure on the Trinamool Congress government is immense to draw investors for much-needed job creation in a state known for its high unemployment rate and flight of capital through the decades.

The US, the UK, Poland, France, Czechoslovakia, Australia, China and Bangladesh are among the nations from where delegates are slated to take part in the conclave, where a number of MOUs are expected to be signed.

The convention would be inaugurated at 2 p.m. on Wednesday by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the newly-built Biswa Bangla Convention Centre. A large number of business to business and business to government meetings are lined up on day two before the concluding session deliberates on the sectoral opportunities in the state.

According to the state government, the convention seeks to focus on regional cooperation and strengthening ties with partner countries, states and cities of the Bengal Global Business Summit, the previous edition of which was held in February.

The conference will bring together distinguished dignitaries, top corporates, thought leaders and senior diplomats.

The sectors in focus would include agriculture and allied services, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, MSMEs and tourism, particularly sea tourism.