Kolkata, 23 August, 2026: Bengal Business Council (BBC) hosted its Annual Convention and Vision Conclave 4.0, with a central theme of “Developed West Bengal for a Developed India”, focusing on strengthening West Bengal’s economic, industrial and commercial competitiveness. The convention witnessed the participation of Shri Swapan Dasgupta, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Finance, Government of West Bengal; Shri Tapas Roy, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Industry, Commerce & Enterprises, Government of West Bengal; Shri Shankar Ghosh
Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Tourism, Government of West Bengal; Dr. Ashok Lahiri, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog; Shri Subrata Gupta, Chief Advisor to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Government of West Bengal, along with other high-level government officials and prominent voices from the business and policy ecosystem. Their presence added to the discussions on the opportunities and challenges shaping Bengal’s business environment.
The objective of the convention was to foster entrepreneurship and position West Bengal as a competitive, investment-friendly and business-enabling state. The conclave also discussed key gaps in the state’s business environment and explored practical, time-bound measures to address them, while creating greater opportunities for existing businesses, MSMEs, entrepreneurs and emerging industries. The industry forum sought to reinforce the message that a Viksit Bharat is not possible without a Viksit West Bengal, highlighting the state’s important role in India’s economic growth, development and global competitiveness.
“West Bengal has a strong and diverse business community, with established companies, MSMEs and entrepreneurs contributing to the state’s economic growth. However, there are areas that require greater attention to support businesses and improve their competitiveness. Through this convention, we aimed to bring key stakeholders together to discuss these challenges, identify practical solutions and explore new opportunities for growth and investment. We believe that a stronger business environment will help West Bengal contribute more effectively to India’s overall economic development”, said Shri Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, President, Bengal Business Council.
“West Bengal has the potential to play a larger role in India’s economic growth, supported by its strong business community and diverse industrial base. To realise this potential, it is important to address the challenges faced by businesses, strengthen the MSME sector, encourage entrepreneurship and create an environment that supports investment and innovation. The convention provides a platform for stakeholders to discuss these priorities and work towards practical measures that can strengthen the state’s business ecosystem and improve its competitiveness”, said Shri Avishek Auddy, Chairman, Bengal Business Council.
The convention also brought together entrepreneurs, MSMEs, startups, professionals, investors, academicians and business leaders for a day of discussions around Bengal’s economic growth, business opportunities and the future of the state’s industry. For the first time, the convention was opened to the wider business community, enabling a larger number of entrepreneurs, professionals and aspiring business leaders to take part in the event. It also created opportunities for networking, collaboration and meaningful business interactions.
The convention further featured a Business Exhibition and Innovation Showcase, where participating businesses and emerging enterprises showcased their work, ideas and innovations to members of the business community.
Building on the success of its previous conventions, the fourth edition marked a larger effort by BBC to create a platform where the business community could interact with policymakers, government representatives and industry leaders.