The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) expressed optimism that West Bengal could regain its status as a significant trade, industry, and employment hub with a transparent and investor-friendly government aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic vision. CAIT Secretary and BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal highlighted the renewed hope and confidence within the trade and industrial community in West Bengal regarding the prospect of a BJP-led government in the state.
Khandelwal pointed out that West Bengal has faced challenges in industry, trade, MSMEs, traditional businesses, and entrepreneurship over the last 15 years due to policy instability, declining investor confidence, migration of industries, syndicate culture, and administrative pressure. He emphasized that the state, once a leading industrial hub, has now lagged in attracting investments, creating employment opportunities, and fostering industrial development.
The CAIT Secretary mentioned that numerous MSME units either closed down or relocated to other states, while traders, artisans, small industries, and traditional businesses lacked sufficient policy support in the past decade. Sectors like tea, jute, handloom, leather, sweets, and other small businesses, employing a large workforce, suffered from increased costs, regulatory complexities, and inadequate infrastructure support.
Subhash Agrawala, Executive Chairman of CAIT and an industrialist from West Bengal, expressed belief in the state’s potential to regain its industrial eminence by aligning policies with initiatives such as ‘Vocal for Local’, ‘Make in India’, ‘Startup India’, and ‘Ease of Doing Business’. He stressed the importance of investor-friendly industrial policies, relief in electricity duty and power tariffs, simplified regulations, a single-window clearance mechanism, and enhanced support for MSMEs and startups.
Agrawala also highlighted the necessity for improved logistics infrastructure, industrial corridors, and policy protection for traditional industries and artisans. CAIT National President B.C. Bhartia stated that traders in West Bengal are optimistic that effective leadership and development-focused governance can assist the state in reclaiming its position as a key center for trade, exports, manufacturing, and employment generation. The focus is on restoring confidence in Bengal, revitalizing industries, and propelling the state towards new heights of growth and prosperity.
