West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee extended a warm invitation to British businesses on Tuesday, March 25, urging them to invest in the state’s burgeoning sectors like automation, engineering, artificial intelligence, green technologies, smart infrastructure, and clean energy.
Speaking at an interactive session titled ‘Opportunities in West Bengal’ in London, Banerjee highlighted the deep historical ties between the UK and Bengal, noting Kolkata’s past as British India’s capital until 1911, with its colonial-era architecture still standing as a testament.
“We share a deep-rooted historical, cultural, and economic background that dates back centuries,” she said, as captured in a video shared on her Facebook page. “We welcome further partnership… Let us create a win-win outcome together.”
Banerjee emphasized her government’s business-friendly policies, citing initiatives like industrial corridors, logistics, export promotion, new energy manufacturing, and data centers. She also pointed to recent investments by British firms as evidence of growing confidence in the state.
Highlighting West Bengal’s progress, Banerjee claimed the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) grew by 6.80% in 2024-25, outpacing India’s GDP growth of 6.37%. She credited her administration with slashing poverty from 57.60% in 2011, when Trinamool Congress took power, to 8.60% today.
The Bengal Global Business Summits (BGBS), she added, have secured investment proposals worth over ₹19 lakh crore, with ₹13 lakh crore already implemented and ₹4 lakh crore more pledged this year. “Sustainable development drives inclusive growth—that’s why Bengal is going ahead,” she asserted.
Banerjee also pitched for direct Kolkata-London flights, noting the current 18-hour journey could shrink to eight, benefiting students, professionals, and businesses. “We will give you a fabulous reception,” she promised airlines.
Touted as a land of “unity in diversity,” West Bengal, she said, offers a harmonious and empowered environment, with 39% of TMC’s MPs being women. As she courts British capital, Banerjee’s vision blends economic ambition with Bengal’s rich legacy, aiming to cement its global standing.