The India International Trade Fair is a significant event organized by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO). This 14-day fair takes place annually from November 14th to 27th at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. During the event, all states and Union Territories showcase their cultural heritage, handicrafts, and handloom creations.
West Bengal participates prominently, highlighting its rich artistic and cultural traditions while promoting itself as a tourism and business hub for potential visitors and investors. Each state is allocated a specific day to celebrate its unique art and culture. This year, ‘West Bengal Day’ was celebrated at the India International Trade Fair 2024 on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, during the exposition.
On the occasion, Dr. Shashi Panja, Hon’ble Minister Dept. of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare; Industry, Commerce & Enterprises, Government of West Bengal, held a press conference at conference hall Pragati Maidan and briefed the media about the “Bengal Pavilion” and discussed the various developmental projects of West Bengal.
Dignitaries from the Ministry of Industry of the Government of West Bengal attended the event. They included Shri Rupam Banerjee, Additional Secretary; Smt. Sonali Dutta Ray, Special Secretary; Smt. Sumita Bagchi, SPL Secretary; Shri Biswanath Chakraborty, Special Secretary; and Ujjaini Datta, Resident Commissioner in Delhi.
The Minister said, “We have participated in the trade fair and have a pavilion, based on the theme, of IITF “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India)”, with almost 19 stalls, eight belonging to MSME and its para stalls and the rest about seven other departments and one was these sweets. I was doing a stock-taking and was informed that there’s been a huge footfall in our West Bengal pavilion.”
“Eight stalls are under the MSME department working for the promotion of textile, Handicrafts, Handlooms, and village industries, Biswa Bangla, Banglar saree, Tantuja, Manjusha, Resham Shilpi, Bangashree, Khadi & Village industry, and Resham Shilpi.”
“The departments that participated include Commerce and Enterprises, MSME dept, Mohilasomobye, West Bengal Trade Export Promotion Society self-help group and self-employment, Panchayat RD, Agricultural and Mktg, Animal Resource & Dev, Tribal Dept, Information, and Cultural Affairs, Tourism Department and Bengali Sweets”
“Products showcasing State’s GI-tagged products, including Darjeeling tea, Baluchari Saree from Bishnupur, Leather goods from Shanti Niketan, Bengal Pattachitra, Purulia Chhau Masks, Gobinda Bhog, and Tulai Panji rice.”
“Apart from products Our Chief Minister Smt Mamata Banerjee’s various pioneering initiatives like SWASTHYA SATHI, KANYASHREE, LAKSHMIR BHANDAR, and RUPASHREE as exhibits as we know that we have given the state government trophy the government of West Bengal has given priority to these social initiatives.”
“The moment one enters the pavilion one will see Ma Durga- Terracotta Maa Durga so it states geographical diversity and religious and various heritage circuits are also displayed”
The state’s geographical diversity and religious & heritage circuits are displayed at the Tourism Department’s stall.
“There are two very important books which have been launched by the tourism department-religious tourism in Bengal so that religious and heritage circuits are also displayed in the book and are also available for your reference”.
Durga Puja received special recognition when UNESCO designated it as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” in 2021. The pavilion features a terracotta image of the Goddess on display. Additionally, it highlights the state’s cultural heritage through live performances by Dhakis and Bauls during the fair.
She announced a piece of good news which came concerning the International Trade Fair the Indian Trade Promotion Organization, ITPO, Bengal pavilion has been selected for an award, and considered for presentation in a ceremony on the closing day of 27th Nov 2024.
She told the media about the consolidated revenue earned by these stalls “In the fair which started on the 14th, goods of self-help groups of Bengal have already been sold worth 10 lakhs plus.”
“Now we have a kind of consolidated the amount delivery which has been earned by these various stalls so this year till now whatever has been compiled the sales amount to almost 82 lacs plus and still going and last year this was 77 lakhs we got an award for our stall and this year also we have just been and through that, we have been awarded.”
She said that “this acclaim is also definitely a big, I would say, it’s an impetus for those who are all participating this time in the various stalls and of course, they have worked hard towards it”
She spoke about the various important schemes and projects that are running or proposed under Govt of West Bengal
“for this is in short and I think they those stalls which were showcasing the work of the development various departments of the government Bengal no products were there also included it included SWASTHYA SATHI which reaches out to almost Beneficiaries About 2.45 crore families also included the UTKARSHA BANGLA program reaching out to a is training program reaching out to almost 35 lakh youths, ANANDADHARA program Around 1.20 crore women benefited & 12 lakhs Self Help Groups were formed”
“There is a huge thrust of the MSME products as you can see in the various stores and of course the very well known. LAKSHMIR BHANDAR, beneficiaries reach out to More than 2 crores 15 lakh women, bringing in five more five lakhs more women into this scheme and marriage assistance screen scheme which is RUPASHREE More than 18 lakhs 64 thousand girls included.”
Many more such schemes here including Tribal Welfare Scheme: JAI JOHAR & TAPOSHILI BANDHU with a Beneficiary number of 12.5 lakh people. For Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (Artisans) BHABISHYAT CREDIT CARD More than 28 thousand youth, and Folk Artists Lok Prasar Prakalpa Enlisted folk artists 1,94,300 are by and large the various schemes which have been also highlighted.
The stalls at the pavilion aim to highlight the work done under the chief ministership of Smt. Mamata Banerjee. She commended the development in the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in Bengal, emphasizing the significance of trade corridors like Dankuni-Kalyani-Raghunathpur and Dankuni-Haldia for industrial expansion.
“You have previously noted, in addition to our other achievements, the importance of our state budget. The Urban Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) 2023 took place alongside various policies that the Honourable Chief Minister launched last year. We are also preparing for the upcoming BGBS, scheduled for the 5th and 6th of February.
She also spoke about the proposed status of RaghunathPur TajPur and Dankuni Jhargaram industrial corridors.
The initiatives that the state cabinet has endorsed contribute greatly to this effort, particularly the West Bengal Industrial and Economic Corridor Policy 2023, which has been launched.” National and state highways, industrial nodes, and existing infrastructure will be developed. However, She indicated that the State’s industrial development is being hampered due to the Centre’s negligence.
“Meanwhile, on the 24th of February, the state’s cabinet approved a loan that would be given by the Asian Development Bank (ADP) which is giving us a loan to build up these industrial economic Corridors … There is a policy in place and we have developing six industrial corridors. The loan from ADP was approved by them and then was placed in the state Cabinet which has been approved you know once you have been approved for a loan from the Asian Development Bank what happens is subject to the Department of Expenditure Ministry of Finance because earlier the analysis from Niti Aayog has been through now lying for final clearance by Ministry of Finance.”
“The first two corridors are Raghunathpur to Tajpur and Dankuni to Jhargram. This project is in the initial stages and involves certain districts located within 10 kilometers along the national highways. We will identify vacant land available from state government authorities, urban local bodies, unused land from public sector undertakings (PSUs), and other parastatal agencies. All potential lands will be assessed, including those that may have been leased to private players, whether they have utilized it or not. Everything will be identified, mapped, and documented. As I mentioned, this process has already been completed for the first two corridors”.
But whether it is the ‘Industrial Economic Corridor’ in Bengal or the deepsea port in Tajpur, the projects stalled only for the central government. The Asian Development Bank is willing to give a loan of 3,485 crores for six corridors worth 4,362 crores and the World Bank agrees to lend 150 million US dollars to West Bengal for logistics projects but Clearance has not been given yet by the Ministry of Finance GOI as this requires the approval of the Centre. Dr Shashi Panja said that the center has not yet given full clearance for the construction of the Tajpur deep sea port. The minister said it has been a long time that the file related to Tajpur was stuck with the center.
“The most important takeaway from this is that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is convinced that this type of loan can be provided to the state for initiatives related to industry and economic growth. Similarly, the logistics policy was announced last year for multi-modal connectivity rail road air, etc The World Bank agreed to give us a loan to be utilized for infrastructure development, which is currently awaiting final clearance from the Ministry of Finance. This speaks volumes about the confidence ADB and World Bank have in the state machinery and the state government, especially in light of any sanctions that may be a concern.”
“The project will start once they permit the six industrial economic corridors, land has been identified for Raghunathpur-Tajpur and Dankuni-Jhargram, but permission from the Center is awaited.”
The minister of the state lashed out at the opposition without naming the opportunity for industrial development as well as social progress in the state. Said, when Mamata Banerjee announced ‘Lakshmi Bhandar’ keeping in mind the social development of women, some political parties laughed.
Now they are copying this scheme in other states. The Minister said that to increase the scope of industrial investment, the tourism industry will be further strengthened by leasing the abandoned land of tea plantations in North Bengal. Said that 23 companies have proposed 32 projects on abandoned land. The state has approved 11 projects out of it.
A musical evening was held at the Amphitheatre, featuring a troupe of Baul singers (wandering minstrels) who staged a live performance to popularize Bengal’s rich folk traditions.
Duo Abhijit Acharya, a singer and composer, along with Gopa Acharya, delivered a captivating performance of Bengal folk songs, seamlessly weaving through the cultural tapestry of rural Bengal. This offered a unique and immersive experience for the audience. The folk music of Bengal holds a special place in the lives of the state’s people.
Abhijit is known for composing and performing music for Bengali serials and films and has received the West Bengal Natya Akademi Award. He primarily directs theatrical music in films and is the son of folk singer Ronen Chowdhury. Abhijit has traveled worldwide with his folk music and can play many strings. Additionally, he has lent his voice to several Bengali serials and began his journey with the Minerva repertoire’s “Devi SarpaMasta.”
Gopa Acharya, originally a folk artist, has learned classical and Tagore songs, and later from Jattleswar Mukherjee. She is also a lyricist and playback singer for Bengali serials and has formed a singing group with female artists.
Both Abhijit and Gopa work extensively to preserve folk music and instruments, enthralling audiences across the globe. They performed hit songs from Lalon Fakir, Hassan Raja, the folk geeti of Rarh Bongo, Jhooumur Gaan, and Radha Raman Guptu Dhamaili Gaan, among others. The event not only celebrated folk music but also won the hearts of many fans, sometimes blending it with fusion elements.
