Wed Mar 26 04:37:05 UTC 2025: ## West Bengal Chief Minister Courts British Investment in London
**London, March 26, 2025** – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee concluded a visit to London with a strong appeal to British businesses to invest in the state. Speaking at an interactive session titled “Opportunities in West Bengal,” Ms. Banerjee highlighted West Bengal’s strategic location, skilled workforce, and business-friendly policies.
The Chief Minister emphasized potential areas for collaboration, including automation, engineering, artificial intelligence, green technologies, smart infrastructure, and clean energy. She underscored the historical ties between Bengal and the UK, reminding the audience that Kolkata was once the capital of British India. Ms. Banerjee cited several British companies that have already invested in the state and showcased West Bengal’s economic growth, claiming a GSDP growth of 6.80% in 2024-25, exceeding India’s national GDP growth.
She also highlighted significant strides in poverty reduction, claiming a drop from 57.60% in 2011 to 8.60% currently. Ms. Banerjee touted the success of the Bengal Global Business Summits, attracting investment proposals exceeding ₹19 lakh crore, with ₹13 lakh crore already implemented. This year’s summit alone attracted over ₹4 lakh crore in investment proposals.
Furthermore, Ms. Banerjee promoted women’s empowerment in West Bengal, noting the high number of women entrepreneurs and the significant female representation within her party. She concluded her appeal by urging UK airlines to reinstate a direct flight between Kolkata and London, emphasizing the significant time savings for travelers.
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