The West Bengal government has unveiled plans to organize a Business and Industry Conclave immediately after the Puja season, with a strong focus on accelerating investment and exports ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. Confirmed by Amit Mitra, Principal Chief Economic Advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the event is designed to showcase the state’s recent industrial achievements and attract further investments across key sectors, notably steel, leather, apparel, gems & jewelry, food processing, and medical equipment.
Central to the steel agenda is the announcement of five new steel plants slated for establishment within the Jangalmahal region, requiring a cumulative investment of ₹32,000 crore. These projects represent a major expansion of West Bengal’s steel manufacturing capacity and are poised to substantially boost regional industrial growth.
The conclave will operate independently of the Bengal Global Business Summit, with detailed planning led by a state-level Investment and Synergy Committee under the leadership of the Chief Secretary. To date, the Committee has cleared proposals for over 3,165 projects across multiple sectors, indicating strong investor confidence.
In addition to steel, the conclave seeks to elevate exports of other sectors. West Bengal’s gems and jewelry exports reached $1.8 billion in 2023–24, with leather exports at $700 million, both poised for significant scale-up. Food processing activities are also gaining strength, with shrimp exports at $423 million, and medical equipment exports valued at $20.5 million, underscoring the region’s diversified industrial base.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to inaugurate a new leather and textile hub in Alipore during the conclave, further signaling the state’s commitment to upgrading industrial infrastructure and generating employment.
