West Bengal industry policy likely to be released this month

PTI, August 19, 2026, Kolkata: The West Bengal government is likely to come out with separate policies for land and industry to attract investments in the state, state Industry Minister Tapas Roy told PTI on Wednesday.

The proposed industry policy will incorporate measures to boost exports, he said. "Export policy will be a part of the industry policy, but the land policy will be separate," he said. Roy heads a group of ministers (GoM) examining these policies. The new industry policy is expected to provide a broader framework for investment, incentives and industrial development in the state, while the separate land policy would deal specifically with issues surrounding availability and transfer of land for industrial and other development purposes.

Roy's clarification also indicates that the government intends to treat exports as an integral part of its industrial growth strategy, rather than framing exports as a standalone policy outside the industrial policy. The proposed separation of the land policy from the industrial one marks a shift from the perception that industrial land issues would be addressed as part of the upcoming industry policy.

Land availability has been one of the key issues discussed by the state government and industry stakeholders as the BJP dispensation seeks to attract fresh investments and expand its industrial base.

The government has been examining alternative approaches to making land easily available for industry, including mechanisms that could reduce dependence on compulsory acquisition. Land pooling is one such alternative mechanism. Roy said the government is aiming to release the industry policy this month.

The proposed industrial policy has been under discussion following a stakeholder consultation convened by the GoM on August 11. State ministers handling key portfolios participated in the meeting with representatives of industries and sought their suggestions on measures that could make West Bengal more attractive for investment. 

The suggestions received from industries are being examined for incorporation into the final draft before it is placed before the cabinet, Roy said. State Labour and Transport Minister Arjun Singh, who is also part of the GoM, said the industry policy was at the final stage of preparation.

The government has claimed that investments worth around Rs 8,000 crore were attracted in the first 100 days of its tenure.