Growing financial optimism

What is your focus area as president of BCC&I? 

Actively promoting West Bengal as a good investment destination. To be a partner in the needs and progress of all stakeholders, including government, MSME, big industries, overseas governments and other chambers of commerce for improving the business scenario.

What is your analysis of the business landscape within the country?

India has decoupled itself from the sluggish growth patterns of many advanced economies. The narrative for 2026 is one of sustained, high-velocity expansion. The economy has successfully shifted from being purely consumption-driven to an investment-led model, catalysed by massive government outlays. While the global environment remains volatile due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia, India continues to hold its ground as the fastest-growing major economy. It has leapfrogged traditional development cycles by embedding AI and digital layers into the core of its business operations.

Do you hope the newly formed government in Bengal can change the negative perception of the state as an investment destination? And what will be the role of BCC&I?

We are expecting a positive change in the investors’ minds about Bengal as an investment destination. This state has many things in its favour. It is the largest consumption market in the East. It is one of the largest producers of agri- and marine products in the country. The state has huge coal reserves and a large, talented young population, which is important for the information age, backed by favourable government policy and support from the Centre, should augur well for the state of Bengal. BCC&I will help the government in various ways to change the perception and try to direct investment to the state of Bengal.

MSMEs and SMEs are often termed as the growth engines of the Indian economy. Bengal has probably the second-largest number of MSMEs. Is the Central government’s initiative enough to safeguard its interests?

There is no doubt that both the Central and state governments understand the role of MSMEs in the economy, equally in GDP contribution and in job creation. That is the reason we see policymakers at all levels of the economy have been designing numerous schemes for facilitating MSMEs. Be it market-connect or launching credit access schemes. We all know about the TReDS, an extremely well-designed tool to unlock working capital for MSMEs by discounting invoices with banks and NBFCs. Creation of the GeM portal is another good initiative for facilitating and enhancing MSME businesses. However, there is still a gap, which is that a large number of MSMEs in Bengal and across India are not UDYAM-registered, and hence they are not in a position to leverage the schemes. BCC&I plays a major role in addressing this gap. Workshops and camps are organised for sensitising MSMEs and hand-holding them during their formalisation processes. Especially, we take regular initiative for GeM registration and the process of navigating the portal for generating businesses.

Harmonious relationships between states and the Centre are important for industry. Now that the same party governs both the state and the Centre, do you think it can significantly accelerate the industrial growth in Bengal?

Harmonious Centre-state relations are a mechanical necessity for India’s industrial growth. Because key inputs like land, power, and law and order fall under the ‘state list’, and major industrial policies require Central coordination, political friction directly stalls projects and causes economic inefficiency. As of 2026, co-operative federalism remains the primary driver behind India’s 7.6 per cent GDP growth.

Going forward, what is BCC&I’s priority?

We remain dedicated to supporting all stakeholders, including industry leaders, governments, and academic institutions. At the same time, we actively empower grassroots communities. Simultaneously, we take immense pride in quite literally working on the ground and at the grassroots with the smallest SHGs and micro-entrepreneurs, FPOs and the rural ecosystem in generating market access, facilitating finance and catalysing/ directly creating climate livelihoods.