Mamata lays out new projects and policies: from sea cable to biofuel

“In the last six editions of the BGBS (Bengal Global Business Summit), an investment of 190 billion USD has been received. Projects worth 120 billion USD have been initiated and the remaining are on the way to being implemented. Bengal is an economic powerhouse. Its economy is growing at 8.41 per cent and the state’s GDP will reach 212 billion USD this fiscal year. The increase in Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is almost four times, revenue grew almost four times, the total budget has increased about 3.8 times, and capital expenditure has grown nine times,” Banerjee said at the event which was attended by Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, energy baron RPSG’s Sanjeev Goenka and Wipro’s Rishad Premji, among others.

Unveiling five new policies – West Bengal Logistics Policy, West Bengal Internet Cable Landing Station Policy, West Bengal Export Promotion Policy, West Bengal Green Hydrogen Policy, and West Bengal New and Renewable Energy Manufacturing Promotion Policy – with an aim to double the state’s exports, modernise its logistics, ease the doing of business and promote renewable energy manufacturing, the Chief Minister said: “Bengal has a stable government, which ensures a peaceful and harmonious environment. Bengal has 12 game-changing policies. We have proposed the first deep sea port at Tajpur which is ready for an investment of Rs 25,000 crore. Deucha Pachami, the world’s second-greatest coal reserve, will create employment and provide abundant coal reserves for the state… Also, four economic corridors are being initiated — Dankuni to Kalyani, Tajpur to Raghunathpur, Dankuni to Jhargram, South-North Bengal, which is Durgapur-Cooch Behar.”

The Chief Minister also announced a policy to promote biofuels and a new sub-sea cable landing station at Digha to help improve internet connectivity in the eastern region. “By 2023, Bengal will join the National Gas Grid and bring revolution in city gas supply,” she added.

Stating that more than 35 countries have joined the BGBS this year, she said 17 countries have been chosen as partner countries such as the UK, Australia, Germany, Japan, France, South Korea, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Republic, Kenya, Rwanda and Fiji.

Slamming the Opposition for creating a “false narrative” of the state “at a time when the industry is booming,” she said: “There is a rumour about Bengal being a place of violence. But this is a narrative spread by some political parties. Have a look at how we developed Bengal despite limited financial support. We are not getting our share. The salaries of MGNREGA workers have been withheld by the Centre.”

“But I am in favour of peace and happiness. Some people ask me which ‘ism’ I follow. I tell them that I am neither in favour of Rightism nor Leftism. I believe in humanism,” she added.

Highlighting the fact that the state was home to some 90 lakh MSME units employing 1.3 crore people, Banerjee pointed out that it also housed a large leather manufacturing complex which was being expanded to be the Asian continent’s biggest, besides boasting of one of the largest IT hubs in the country.

Banerjee said that the state’s Durga Puja festival economy grossed over Rs 80,000 crore this year.