CII West Bengal State Council aims to create an ecosystem that fosters innovation, inclusivity, and resilience in the State

CII West Bengal State Council presented a comprehensive agenda, encompassing a wide array of projects, objectives, and initiatives aimed at driving sustainable economic growth and development in the state. Mr Debashis Dutta, Chairman, CII West Bengal State Council and Director, BGS Group, stated that CII West Bengal compliments and congratulates the initiatives taken by the State Government and also for its proactive measures in economic development, infrastructure improvement, and social welfare.

Mr Dutta highlighted the successful completion of the State’s investor summit – BGBS and the implementation of policies, benefiting the state’s industrial parks and economic corridors. CII complimenting the Government initiative of a single window synergy portal to increase the confidence of the investors in the state. He commended Hon’ble Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s various social upliftment programs, such as Swasthya Sathi, Lakshmir Bhandar, Kanyashree, Duare Sarkar, etc, which has gone a long way in securing educational and financial independence for women, as well as addressing healthcare issue at the grassroots. CII has submitted a comprehensive vision report which highlights existing and potential opportunities in the state and initiatives required to tap its full potential. Mr Dutta emphasized that as the state being the second largest MSME hub of the country, CII will work closely with the Government to strengthen the MSME ecosystem by connecting them with large scale industries and creating business linkages. An effort will be made to engage the MSMEs with CII’s centres of excellence, widening the spectrum of their business endeavours and create more awareness about the GeM & TReDs portals. CII has put forward a cluster-based approach aimed at strengthening capacity development and market linkages within the leather, textile, gems and jewellery, and engineering industries. Furthermore, a district development plan for North Bengal has been recommended to support regional growth.

The Chairman further highlighted the Council’s commitment to fostering environmentally conscious practices within the business community. Plans have been mapped to make reports and publications focusing on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) preparedness among MSMEs, highlighting the importance of integrating sustainability into business operations for long-term growth. The ESG Helpdesk, promoted by the West Bengal State Council, will remain our focus to help MSME stakeholders create the ESG framework, he said. Mr Rupak Barua, Vice Chairman, West Bengal State Council and MD & CEO of Woodlands Hospital, stressed on the significance of training, competitions and awards to enhance competitiveness and efficiency. Proposed workshops are aimed at equipping MSMEs with the necessary skills for export business, leveraging statistical tools to increase productivity, build competitiveness among shopfloor workers, among others. The Council are also in talks with academic Centres of Excellence like Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) for executing the training programmes with MSMEs.

Furthermore, the council announced a series of initiatives designed to address specific needs and challenges within the state. These projects encompassed diverse areas such as Agriculture & Food Processing, tourism & hospitality, manufacturing & MSME, healthcare, infrastructure with a primary focus. Logistics and Defence, the sunshine sectors of the state, would also be our focal area of work. This year, the Council will also work with logistics, defence, textiles, leather, gems & jewellery and foundry association to strengthen their deliberations. Collaborating closely with the Government of West Bengal, the Council aim to stimulate growth and attract investments in strategic sectors.

By aligning these projects and objectives with its overarching vision, the CII West Bengal State Council aims to create an ecosystem that fosters innovation, inclusivity, and resilience, positioning West Bengal as a globally competitive hub. Through collective action and strategic partnerships, the council is poised to drive meaningful change and unlock the region’s full potential for economic prosperity and social well-being.