Mamata Banerjee to interact with industrialists in Mumbai

The meeting on Wednesday at Four Seasons Hotel is expected to be attended by at least 100 business leaders from the financial capital of the country

Mamata offers prayers at the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai on Tuesday.: Telegraph photo

Sambit Saha   |  TT  |  Calcutta   |   01.12.21: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee will engage with industrialists on Wednesday during her first outreach programme outside Bengal in her third term in office when she attends a meeting of Young Presidents’ Organisation in Mumbai.

The afternoon meeting at Four Seasons Hotel in Mumbai is expected to be attended by at least 100 business leaders from the financial capital of the country.

The 90-odd minute meeting will comprise a presentation from senior bureaucrats of the Bengal administration, sharing of experience by top industrialists from the state and an interaction with the chief minister.

Mamata, who landed in Mumbai on Tuesday, is being accompanied by the chief secretary, HK Dwivedi, industry secretary and West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation managing director Vandana Yadav, WBIDC chairman Rajiva Sinha and other senior bureaucrats from MSME and tourism department.

A flock of Calcutta-headquartered industry leaders will also be present at the event. Those who have already confirmed their participation include RPSG chairman Sanjiv Goenka, Ambuja Neotia Group chairman Harsh Neotia, Dhunseri Group owner Chandra Kumar Dhanuka, Luxmi Group managing director Rudra Chatterjee, Patton India MD Sanjay Budhia, Bengal Aerotropolis director Utsav Parekh and RIL executive Tarun Jhunjhunwala.

Sources said they were likely to share their experience of working in Bengal.

“This is the chief minister’s first visit outside Bengal to engage with industrialists and showcase the opportunities that exist in her state. She will also invite industrialists to visit the state and participate in the Bengal Global Business Summit in April 2022,” said a source privy to the development.

The Bengal brigade is expected to showcase some of the important opportunities in the state. The proposed sea port at Tajpur and coal block development at Deocha-Pachami are going to get special mention, sources added.

On reaching Mumbai, Mamata visited the Siddhivinayak Temple in the evening and then had a meeting with Shiv Sena leaders Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut.

The Bengal chief minister is likely to meet NCP supremo Sharad Pawar on Wednesday.

Before leaving for Mumbai, the chief minister expressed hope that her visit would be a fruitful one.

“Bengal is now the new destination for business. Many people are looking at the state. We will hold Bengal Global Business Summit next year and expect a large participation there,” she said.