Bengal to unveil new industrial policy after Diwali, aims to become top investment hub: Adhikari

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday announced that his government would unveil a new industrial policy after Diwali to transform the state into a preferred investment destination within a year, promising a business-friendly environment while ensuring that industrial development benefits ordinary people.

Inaugurating Haldia Petrochemicals' Rs 6,000-crore phenol and acetone plant in Purba Medinipur district, Adhikari gave a "Chalun West Bengal" (Let's go to West Bengal) call to industrialists and investors, assuring them that his five-month-old government was committed to reversing the state's industrial decline.

"Our government is just five months old. But I can assure you that within a year, West Bengal will become the destination of industrialists and investors," he said, adding that the administration would work to overcome what he described as the legacy of 34 years of Left Front rule and 15 years of Trinamool Congress governance.

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱

The chief minister said a Group of Ministers had submitted a draft industrial policy covering investment incentives, land allocation and electricity tariffs. The government was examining the recommendations and intended to finalise the policy around Diwali.

Adhikari asserted that his administration would not tolerate what he termed "radical trade unionism", disruptive strikes, factory lockouts or harassment of industrial managements. He alleged that such practices had contributed to the closure of more than 50,000 industrial units during the Left Front's tenure.

He also accused the previous TMC government of discouraging investment through an unfavourable land policy, withdrawal of incentives and the alleged proliferation of syndicates. These claims were made by the chief minister while outlining his government's industrial agenda.

𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Describing the Rs 6,000-crore phenol and acetone complex as an example of the Centre's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Adhikari said the facility would help reduce India's dependence on imported chemicals. He also announced that another Rs 10,000 crore in investment was in the pipeline.

The chief minister said industrialist Purnendu Chatterjee, associated with Haldia Petrochemicals, had outlined several expansion proposals, including improvements in rail connectivity. He assured Chatterjee of government support and urged him to explore establishing a data centre in West Bengal.

According to Adhikari, the petrochemical expansion is expected to create approximately 400 direct jobs and another 1,000 indirect employment opportunities. He said the government would promote campus recruitment and skill development to ensure that local candidates benefited from new industrial investments.

"We have to make West Bengal also 'Atmanirbhar'... we have become too dependent on dole-based support. We have to come out of it," he said.

𝗣𝗲𝗽𝘀𝗶𝗖𝗼, 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲

Announcing further investment proposals, Adhikari said the Haldia Development Authority (HDA) had provided 98 acres for a proposed PepsiCo plant, for which Cabinet approval would be sought. Another 50 acres had been earmarked for a medical equipment manufacturing unit, while discussions were underway with several other companies regarding their investment plans.

The chief minister also announced that he would attend the groundbreaking ceremony of a Reliance Campa Cola project in Arambagh on October 28. He said the government was working to strengthen industrial infrastructure and facilitate new manufacturing facilities across the state.

𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝟱𝟬-𝗯𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲

Highlighting the need for better emergency medical facilities for industrial workers, Adhikari announced plans to establish a 50-bed trauma centre equipped with a burn unit in Haldia by June 2027.

He said the HDA had allocated Rs 18 crore for the facility, while Indian Oil had sanctioned Rs 5 crore under its corporate social responsibility programme. An additional Rs 5 crore had been allocated under the Centre's National Health Mission.

The chief minister expressed concern over the absence of adequate emergency treatment facilities for workers injured in industrial accidents, saying successive governments had failed to address the problem.

Emphasising Haldia's economic importance, Adhikari said the industrial town served not only West Bengal but also neighbouring Nepal, Bhutan and several adjoining Indian states. He maintained that strengthening Haldia's industrial infrastructure would contribute to wider regional economic development.

The chief minister reiterated that his government's industrial strategy would prioritise investment, employment generation and infrastructure development, with the objective of restoring investor confidence and positioning West Bengal as a major manufacturing and business destination.