Day 1 Highlights: Bengal Global Business Summit 2017

Posted on January 20, 2017 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

The first day of the Bengal Global Business Summit 2017 received accolades from the President of India on Bengal emerging as an investment destination.

11 AM: The day started with former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly making an impassioned appeal to investors to tap into the potential of Bengal. It was followed by an AV presentation on the investment opportunities in the State.

11:30 AM: Various captains of industries (YP Modi, Sanjeev Goenka, Kishore Biyani, Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Pankaj Munjal) shared their experience of running businesses in Bengal.

Sanjeev Goenka announced investment worth Rs 10000 crore in Bengal over the next few years in FMCG sector. Rakesh Bharti Mittal announced investment worth Rs 3-4000 crore more in Bengal in the next three years. YK Modi announced investments close to one billion rupees in coal bed methane project in Bengal in the next 6 years. TCG Chairman Purnendu Chatterjee announced investments close to Rs 1000 crore for HPL expansion. Hero Motors Group Chairman & MD Pankaj Munjal announced announced investments close to Rs 450 crore for cycle manufacturing.

GAIL has also decided invest Rs 6000 Crore in Bengal in the next 2-3 years including gas pipeline project.

12:00 PM: This was followed by the address by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Read her full speech here.

12:30 PM: During the plenary session, the Hon’ble President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, congratulated the Chief Minister for moving ahead despite legacies of the past. He hoped when the delegates will be go back, they will be taking a part of Bengal back with them. Bengal has truly emerged as an investment destination; the presence of so many delegates is a proof of it, he said.

He later tweeted:

“Bengal Global Business Summit showcases investment opportunities in West Bengal. Growth in State GDP and revenue buoyancy of West Bengal has been impressive. Large participation in the forum, including from 29 countries shows level of interest in West Bengal amongst investors.”

1:00 PM: Delegates from partner countries and other foreign delegates graced the stage and shared their views on the opportunities for business ties with Bengal.

3 PM: The second half of the first day witnessed a Plenary Session on Start Ups and Entrepreneurship. Startups that were present in the session included big names like Naukri and Foodpanda. The session was moderated by Mohandas Pai. Five home-grown startups of Bengal were showcased in the session.

During the session, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the Government wants to encourage startups but we must ensure the money does not reach only a select few. There must be privacy in data bank, she said. Whatever business people are doing, it must be fully protected, she said. The Government wants young entrepreneurs to come up and work for the betterment of the people, she said.

Bengal Finance and Industry Minister, while speaking at the session stressed on critical thinking and innovation that is bankable. “Be a startup, be disruptive, but how do you engage common people, how do you include them into mainstream,” he asked the entrepreneurs present in the hall. He asked the people not take a job, but be an entrepreneur and create jobs. “This is the Bengal everybody wants to see,” he said.

5 PM: The last session of the day was an ‘International Multi-Country Session’ which saw representatives from Italy, Romania, Netherlands, Poland, Norway, Canada, Russia, China, Japan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Australia, Belgium and other countries.

The Ambassador of Italy to India praised the economic and infrastructure growth in Bengal.

The delegate from Belgium focused on three sectors where Bengal and Belgium can cooperate: trading hubs, agriculture, river tourism.

The delegate from Russian Foreign Ministry announced a Russian company is planning to invest in Bengal, in chemical sector.

The delegate from the Silesia province of Poland discussed opportunities for partnership between Bengal and Silesia

The delegate from Bahrain pitched for closer business ties with Bengal.

The delegation from South Korea invited to visit the Bengal Chief Minister to visit their country.

Bengal has emerged as a business destination: President of India at Bengal Global Business Summit 2017

Posted on January 20, 2017 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Hon’ble President of India inaugurated the third edition of Bengal Global Business Summit today. During his speech he said complemented the current State government for moving with liberal policies for suitable investment climate despite huge debt-stress.

The Hon’ble President said that the Bengal government is focused on growth. He also praised the Sabuj Sathi scheme of the state government.

The two-day long summit is being organised at Milan Mela Grounds, Kolkata. Business delegations from 29 countries including Japan, Germany, Poland, Netherlands, Korea, Belgium, Bangladesh, United States of America, UK, Canada, Italy, Russia, China are participating in the two-day meeting.

মাননীয় রাষ্ট্রপতির উপস্থিতিতে শুরু হল বিশ্ব বঙ্গ বাণিজ্য সম্মেলন

ভারতের মাননীয় রাষ্ট্রপতি আজ তৃতীয় বিশ্ব বঙ্গ বাণিজ্য সম্মেলনের উদ্বোধন করলেন। দুদিনব্যাপী এই সম্মেলন অনুষ্ঠিত হচ্ছে মিলন মেলা প্রাঙ্গনে। আমেরিকা, ব্রিটেন, কানাডা, ইতালি, রাশিয়া, চীন সহ নানা দেশের প্রতিনিধিরা উপস্থিত এই সম্মেলনে।

বন্দর, খনি, ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি শিল্পের ওপর বিশেষ গুরুত্ব দেওয়া হবে বিশ্ব বঙ্গ বাণিজ্য সম্মেলনে। শিল্প ও বানিজ্য দপ্তর ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি শিল্পের অন্তর্গত বস্ত্র, রত্ন, গয়না, চামড়া, পাট, কামারশিল্প, ঢালাই ও হস্তশিল্পকেও তুলে ধরবে।

বিশ্ব বঙ্গ বাণিজ্য সম্মেলন ২০১৭য় স্টার্ট-আপ হতে চলেছে ‘মধ্যমণি’। সাম্প্রতিককালের কিছু নামকরা স্টার্ট-আপের প্রতিনিধিরা রয়েছেন এই সম্মেলন।

Bengal has turned around under CM Mamata Banerjee

Posted on January 20, 2017 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

The third edition of Bengal Global Business Summit is being held at Milan Mela Grounds with participation from business delegates from around the world.

In the last five years, Bengal has witnessed unprecedented growth under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee. Power cuts are a thing of the past; the State has formulated new policies for industry, MSME, land use, textile, maritime, tourism.

There has been a large-scale growth in infrastructure and Bengal is now the fourth largest State economy in the country. The humane-government has also excelled in social-sector development.

Here are some hard figures of the unprecedented development in Bengal since 2011:

Economic Parameters

Growth Rate of Bengal is far above the Growth Rate of India at Macroeconomic level –

	India (% Growth, 2015-2016)	Bengal (% Growth, 2015-2016)
Gross Value Added (GVA)	7.3	12.02
Industrial Sector	7.3	10.59
Agricultural Sector	1.1	5.55
Services Sector	9.2	13.99

1. GSDP (at current Prices)
2010-11 – Rs 4,60,959 Cr

2015-16 – Rs 9,39,471 Cr

2. Fiscal Deficit (as a percentage of GSDP) has been brought down
2010-11 – 4.24%

2015-16 – 2.68%

3. Revenue Deficit has been brought down
2010-11 – 3.75%

2015-16 – 1.03%

4. State’s own Taxes has doubled in four years
2010-11 – Rs 21,129 Cr

2015-16 – Rs 49,920 Cr

5. Plan expenditure of the Government has gone up by 3 times
2010-11 – Rs 14,615 Cr

2015-16 – Rs 54,069 Cr

Plan Expenditure in social sector has increased by 4.5 times

Agriculture and Agri-allied sector has grown by 7 times
Physical Infrastructure has grown by 4 times

Capital Expenditure has grown by 7 times
2010-11 – Rs 2,226 Cr

2015-16 – Rs 15,947 Cr

Growth of Infrastructure and Human Capital

10,663 kms of new highways constructed and upgraded in the last 5 years
10,000 kms of rural roads constructed and upgraded in the last 5 years
100% electrification with quality power provided – No power cuts
2,510 new Primary Schools and 3,452 Junior High Schools opened in the last 5 years
1,852 Secondary Schools have been enhanced to Higher Secondary stage in the last five years
46 new Government Colleges have been opened in the last five years
7 new State-aided Universities and 8 new Private Universities have been set up in the last five years
81 new Polytechnic Colleges have been opened in the last five years compared to 65 in 2011, thus totaling to 146
170 new Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) have been opened in the last five years compared to 80 in 2011, thus totaling to 250 ITIs
Significant Investment Flows between 2011 and March 2016

Schedule of the Bengal Global Business Summit 2017

Posted on January 19, 2017 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

As the Bengal Government gears up for the third edition of Bengal Global Business Summit, the stage is set with a stable State Government, remarkable growth, improved governance and record social and physical infrastructure.

West Bengal recorded a 12.02% real growth in terms of GVA in 2015-16 and the Industry sector of the state observed a growth rate of 10.59% in 2015-16. The State has framed plethora of industry friendly policies.

The two-day long Bengal Global Business Summit 2017 will bring together policy makers, corporate leaders from around the globe, delegations, academia, opinion makers to explore business opportunities, forge partnerships and collaborations.

Come to Bengal, Ride the Growth!

তৃতীয় বিশ্ব বঙ্গ বাণিজ্য সম্মেলনের জন্য প্রস্তুত বাংলা। বাংলা এখন উন্নয়নের পথে। সামাজিক ও অর্থনৈতিক পরিকাঠামো থেকে শুরু করে সব কিছুতেই এখন এগিয়ে পশ্চিমবাংলা।

২০১৫-১৬ সালে পশ্চিমবাংলার GVA গ্রোথ ছিল রেকর্ড পরিমান ১২.২%। ২০১৫-১৬ সালে শিল্পক্ষেত্রে বৃদ্ধির হার ১০.৫৯%।

দুদিনব্যাপী এই বেঙ্গল গ্লোবাল বিজনেস সামিটে সারা বিশ্বের বিভিন্ন উদ্যগপতি ও কর্পোরেট নেতারা ও শিল্পপতিদের প্রতিনিধি দল অংশগ্রহণ করবেন।

Come to Bengal, Ride the Growth!

Here is the schedule for the two-day Summit:

Day 1: January 20, 2017

Day 2: January 21, 2107

Third edition of Bengal Global Business Summit to be biggest so far

Posted on January 19, 2017 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

This year, the third edition of Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) will be organised at Milan Mela, and will be the biggest summit so far. The venue will have top-class facilities and security arrangements for delegates.

The state government laid no stone unturned to strongly promote the event. The city was decked up with hoardings and billboards displaying the objectives of BGBS and the tag line ‘Come to Bengal, Ride the growth’. The hoardings were seen on most of the busiest road crossings and intersections.

Port, mining and MSME will be the main areas of focus at the 2017 edition of the summit. The state government recently framed a Maritime Policy, with the help of global analytical company CRISIL. With that, the government has also opened the ways to widen ‘port-based industrialisation’ to give an edge to Bengal’s trade scenario.

Promoting the state as the possessor of the third largest ‘mineral resource’ across India, the Bengal government will look to get investment in mining sector as well. The Commerce and Industry department will promote sectors like textile, gems and jewellery, leather, jute, forging, casting, apparel and handicraft under MSMEs.

Startups are also in focus at the Summit this year. On 20 January, 2017, there will be a ‘Plenary Session on Start Ups & Entrepreneurship’ and on the second day, a special session on startups is scheduled.

এবছরের বিশ্ব বঙ্গ বাণিজ্য সম্মেলন এখনও পর্যন্ত সবথেকে বড়

আগামীকাল থেকে শুরু হচ্ছে তৃতীয় বিশ্ব বঙ্গ বাণিজ্য সম্মেলন। দুদিনের এই সম্মেলন হবে মিলনমেলায়। চলবে শনিবার পর্যন্ত।

এই উপলক্ষে হোর্ডিং ও ব্যানারে সেজে উঠেছে গোটা কলকাতা। শহরের বিভিন্ন প্রান্তে ব্যস্ততম ক্রসিংগুলোতে লাগানো হয়েছে এইসব হোর্ডিং। যার ট্যাগ লাইন হল ‘Come to Bengal, Ride the growth’. চলছে শেষ মুহূর্তের প্রস্তুতি।

২০১৭–‌র বিশ্ববঙ্গ বাণিজ্য সম্মেলনের প্রধান আকর্ষণ দুটো— এক, চীন। আর দুই, উদ্ভাবনী নতুন ব্যবসা, শিল্প জগতে এখন ‘স্টার্ট আপ’ নামে যার পরিচয়। বন্দর, খনিজ শক্তি, ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি শিল্প এই সম্মেলনে বিশেষ গুরুত্ব পাবে। এছাড়াও যে বিষয়গুলিতে নজর দেওয়া হচ্ছে সেগুলি হল – জলপথ পরিবহন, অসামরিক বিমান পরিষেবা, গাড়ি, ক্রীড়া ও পরিকাঠামো বিষয়ক শিল্প, খাদ্য প্রক্রিয়াকরণ, স্বাস্থ্য, শিক্ষা, কর্মদক্ষতা, তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি, নগরোন্নয়ন, অরথ-আইন বিষয়ক ক্ষেত্র, পর্যটন ও বিনোদন ইত্যাদি।

সম্মেলনে উপস্থিত থাকবেন বিভিন্ন শিল্পক্ষেত্রের ২৫টি সংস্থার প্রতিনিধিরা। উদ্ভাবনী নতুন ব্যবসা স্থাপনের অনুকূল পরিবেশ তৈরি করার জন্যই বিশ্ব বঙ্গ সম্মেলনে স্টার্ট আপ–‌কে গুরুত্ব দেওয়া হচ্ছে। ইন্ডিয়ান ইনস্টিটিউট অফ ম্যানেজমেন্ট, কলকাতার ইনোভেশন পার্ক চিহ্নিত করে দিয়েছে স্থানীয় বেশ কিছু সম্ভাবনাময় স্টার্ট আপ। কনফেডারেশন অফ ইন্ডিয়ান ইন্ডাস্ট্রিজের পক্ষ থেকে বিশেষ উদ্যোগ নেওয়া হয়েছে যাতে স্টার্ট আপ কর্ণধাররা অন্যান্য শিল্প প্রতিষ্ঠানের প্রতিনিধিদের সঙ্গে সরাসরি আলোচনায় বসতে পারেন।

আগামী ২০ জানুয়ারি ‘Plenary Session on Start Ups & Entrepreneurship’ এর একটি সেশন হবে এবং সম্মেলনের দ্বিতীয় দিনে স্টার্টআপের ওপর একটি বিশেষ সেশন হবে।

Startups to be showstoppers at Bengal Global Business Summit 2017

Posted on January 18, 2017 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Startups will be the toast of Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) 2017 with some of the biggest entrepreneurs in recent times, from a taxi aggregation that has revolutionised urban transport in India to an online grocery that has transformed the lives of working couples, and a fast food chain that started its journey from Kolkata and has branches in 10 cities now, participating in the two-day event beginning Friday.

The startup event is being organised in association with the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. CEO of Innovation Park in IIM-C feels the programme will be a big help in building a startup ecosystem in the east. With startups constituting a major part of the Indian economy in terms of market capitalization, attracting investments and generating jobs, the participation of big names in the sector augers well for Bengal.

There is a session on venture capital and private equity funds on Saturday that will see the participation of Sequoia Capital and Calcutta Angels, among others.

বিশ্ব বঙ্গ বাণিজ্য সম্মেলন ২০১৭র কেন্দ্রবিন্দুতে থাকবে স্টার্ট-আপ

বিশ্ব বঙ্গ বাণিজ্য সম্মেলন ২০১৭য় স্টার্ট-আপ হতে চলেছে ‘মধ্যমণি’। সাম্প্রতিককালের কিছু নামকরা স্টার্ট-আপের প্রতিনিধিরা থাকবেন এই সম্মেলন। থাকবে একটি ভারতীয় অনলাইন ট্যাক্সি পরিষেবা প্রদানকারী সংস্থা থেকে শুরু করে অনলাইনে নিত্যপ্রয়োজনীয় জিনিসপত্র কেনার স্টার্ট-আপ ও। অংশগ্রহণ করবে কলকাতায় যাত্রা শুরু করা ফাস্ট ফুড চেন যা ছড়িয়ে পড়েছে দেশের আরও ১০টি শহরে।

স্টার্ট-আপ নিয়ে ‘সেশন’টি অনুষ্ঠিত হবে ইন্ডিয়ান ইন্সটিটিউট অফ ম্যানেজমেন্ট (আইআইএম), কলকাতার সহযোগিতায়। আইআইএম কলকাতা’র ইনোভেশান পার্কের সিইও মনে করেন পূর্ব ভারতে স্টার্ট-আপ ইকোসিস্টেম তৈরী করতে সাহায্য করবে এই সম্মেলন।

ভারতীয় অর্থনীতিতে এখন স্টার্ট-আপ গুলির অবদান অপরিসীম। স্বাভাবিকভাবেই বিশ্ব বঙ্গ বাণিজ্য সম্মেলনে স্টার্ট-আপের ওপর জোর দেওয়াতে বাংলার ভাবমূর্তি আরও উজ্জ্বল হবে।

All you need to know about the new Startup Policy of Bengal

Posted on January 13, 2016 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

To provide an enabling ecosystem to support and nurture startups in the state, the West Bengal Government launched the state startup policy at the Bengal Global Business Summit.

Broad pointers

The policy, a document with eight broad pointers comes complete with a preamble, a vision, the state’s mission, the enabling environment for startups in the state, definitions related to various aspects of a startup alongside defining incentives and procedures to be followed by the startups.

This policy would be in effect from January 1 2016 to December 31, 2021.

The policy has been launched ahead of the Centre so that MSMEs in the State can start the work at the earliest and use all the facilities the state is offering to encourage entrepreneurship.

Preamble

The preamble of the policy takes off with the statement ‘Silpa Korun Bangla Gorun’ (set up industry to develop Bengal.

Defining the mission of the state, the policy states that the authorities would target to create enabling environment and supporting eco-system that facilitates ten thousand startups in the next ten years.

Entrepreneurship Development Centre Network

The state will create an Entrepreneurship Development Centre Network (EDCN) with universities and leading higher education institutes across all districts in the state to undertake the role of creating entrepreneurial aspiration among the youngsters.

The state will provide fund capital expenditure up to Rs 10 lakh to universities in the state to create an EDC. Presidency University is one of the first in the state to be a part of the initiative.

Alongside facilitating EDCN institutions to incentivize entrepreneurship, the state will also facilitate capacity building capacity building of EDCN institutions through active collaboration with leading technical business incubators (TBI) in the state.

The state would facilitate setting up of new incubators in government as well as private sector.

Helping businesses

Preferential lease of land from state government as per its land policy to government recognized TBIs in the state too would be facilitated.

Twenty per cent of space available will be earmarked in existing and forthcoming Industrial estate, SME Clusters and Rural Craft Hub having common facility centre for startups during their proof of concept (POC) development stage.

The policy allows startups to access government R&D labs through MSME Technology Facilitation Centre set up by the State Government in partnership with CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research).

The Directorate of MSME would act as the nodal agency to the Innovation Enabler Mechanism that would be set up by the state to address the statutory compliance issues of the initiatives.

Digital platform

A digital platform startupbengal.in will connect all the eco-system stakeholders, network of support, funding and service providers to enable seamless access for startups.

There would also be a digital application gateway to WB MSME Equity Fund. The policy also mentions that any fiscal incentive available under the state government policy will be applicable to startups too.

The image is representative

T V Mohandas Pai roped in by WB Govt to draft startup policies

Posted on October 14, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Infosys co-founder and IT industry stalwart T V Mohandas Pai will take the leading role in drafting a policy to encourage build and nurture a conducive environment for startups and entrepreneurs in the sector in Bengal.

Pai has proposed a target of building as many as 10,000 startups in the state in 10 years, generating around $50 billion business. Latching onto Pai’s pitch, state finance, industry, commerce and IT minister Dr Amit Mitra requested him to take charge and formulate a comprehensive startup policy for Bengal.

On the sidelines of the Investment Roadshow for the Bengal Global Business Summit in Bengaluru, Pai, “I will wait for the Bengal government’s next proactive step. We have to sit with the government and other authorities. Let them come up with some concrete measures and I will definitely pitch in with ideas.“

At the roadshow organized by industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Dr Mitra said, “The government has always encouraged technocrats and industry experts to take lead. And, I wish Mohan Bhai to take the leadership. I am assuring him that the government will do its best to fulfil the target by five years. Mr Pai will send us a draft policy on the startup soon.“ He promised to make Bengal the startup capital of the country. According to Pai, startup will be the most vibrant and buzzing sector of the economy. “By 2025, there will be one hundred thousand startups operating in India, generating a business of a staggering $500 billon. West Bengal, with its 93 million people–most of them making a talent pool–can’t lag behind in the race. Imagine the number of jobs that would be created, if you count 35 peoples’ employment involved with one startup,“ said Pai, who is currently the chairman of Manipal Global Education Services.

Pai also urged the state IT minister to come up with or arrange for initial funding for the budding startup space: “The state government needs to set up Rs 1,000 crore angel fund for the seed capital.“ Replying to it, the state finance minister said in the last state budget, the government earmarked Rs 200 crore for the fresh entrepreneurs.

According to Pai, who has become a pioneer in investing, advising and nurturing startups in India and across the globe, startups do not mean something dealing in pure IT jobs only. “They can work in life science, 3D printing, stem cells, and robotics. So, high-quality, Wi-fi equipped digital infrastructure for the common man and a policy to back vibrant enterprises are the need of the hour. Kolkata, once called the east of London, is moving towards it. The road map lies there,“ Pai signed off.

Taking a cue from Pai, Dr Mitra announced that the government would organize Startup Bengal Global Summit this year under the umbrella of Bengal Global Summit, January 8-9. “We needed a mentor, such as Mr Pai, to push us to a new frontier,“ he said.