West Bengal Government Highlights Plans to Boost Investment in Siliguri

EOI, July 28, 2026, Siliguri: : The West Bengal Government is committed to transforming north Bengal, particularly Siliguri, into a major investment destination by creating a business-friendly environment and strengthening infrastructure, Finance Minister Swapn Dasgupta and Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh said during an interaction with industrialists and investors in Siliguri on Tuesday.

The meeting, titled "The Dawn of Viksit Bengal," was organised by the Bengal Chambers of Commerce and Industry at a private hotel in the city. It brought together leading industrialists, entrepreneurs and business representatives from across north Bengal to discuss investment opportunities and the industrial future of the region.

Addressing the gathering, Finance Minister Swapn Dasgupta said north Bengal was no longer viewed merely as the gateway to the hills, but had emerged as a strategically important region from both national security and economic development perspectives.

He emphasised that the West Bengal Government was creating a peaceful and investor-friendly atmosphere to encourage businesses and industries to establish operations in the region.

The Minister also expressed concern over the ongoing crisis in the tea industry, highlighting the closure of several tea gardens and the financial hardships faced by tea workers.

Stressing the need for economic diversification, he said the government was focusing on attracting investments in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor manufacturing, advanced education and technology-driven industries.

Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh said the state government was also working to strengthen West Bengal's position on the global tourism map.

He announced plans to promote Darjeeling and the Sundarbans as international tourist destinations while further enhancing the global branding of Durga Puja, which had already gained international recognition.