KOLKATA: The Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) 2025 kicks off today, with big names like Mukesh Ambani and Sajjan Jindal expected to attend. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will inaugurate the event, marking the eighth edition of the summit. This could be the Mamata government’s last chance to attract major investments before the 2026 Assembly elections. The state hopes to highlight Bengal’s “business-friendly environment” and tackle the unemployment issue.

At a pre-event meeting on Tuesday, Mamata shared that delegates from around 40 countries will join the summit, with 20 of them partnering officially. About 26 ambassadors and foreign officials will also be present. Since coming to power in 2011, Mamata has pushed hard for industrial growth in the state, organizing the first BGBS in 2015. The government claims Bengal is now an “industrial powerhouse” and one of India’s fastest-growing economies.

However, opposition parties disagree, pointing to high unemployment and the migration of young workers out of the state. This makes the 2025 summit especially important, as job creation will likely be a key issue in the next elections.

Sources said the government has put in a big effort to make this event a success, with possible announcements in infrastructure that could create new jobs. While Mamata did not travel abroad this time to promote the summit, international participation remains strong. Countries like Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Poland, and Bhutan will hold sessions during the two-day event.

Unlike previous years, the government is keeping the list of Indian business attendees under wraps. However, industry insiders say top business leaders will be there, and both FICCI and CII will hold national executive meetings at the summit. Mamata plans to briefly attend these sessions, expressing confidence that the summit will bring “good news” for Bengal.

The summit will focus on various sectors, including manufacturing, MSMEs, natural resources, defense, international trade, tourism, IT, healthcare, and the film industry. Last year’s summit in November 2023 saw investment proposals worth Rs 3,76,288 crore through 188 MoUs and letters of intent. It remains to be seen how many of these proposals were implemented.

The performance of this year’s summit will be announced at the closing session on Thursday, where Mamata will present a report  in her valedictory address