Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today invited industrialists to Bengal and guaranteed an industry-friendly atmosphere, with ample “tolerance” and “security” and assured that the state would deprive none.
“We in Bengal believe in unity and tolerance. So I invite all my industrial friends to invest in the state without fear. At the same time, I would like to tell that I will not compromise on the issue of security of the industrialists. I will not spare even my own party activists on this count,” Miss Banerjee said.

“West Bengal is ideal for industrial investment. We have political stability. On the issue of man- days lost, the dark days are over. We have surplus power and skilled labour. Moreover, there is an air of unity and tolerance in the state,” she said, adding, “People of various castes, religions and beliefs reside in India. That is the beauty of our country. Unity in diversity is our pride. People of Bengal always practice this unity in diversity and that is where the strength of the state lies.”

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Stressing that the state is one of the best in terms of employment oppurtunities, Miss Banerjee said that with industrialists investing in Bengal, the state would become number one in terms of providing employment.

Calling industrialists as “assets”, Miss Banerjee urged them to consider Bengal as their ‘home town’. “We cannot work without you. Please invest in the state,” she said.
Bengal government has an excellent team of bureaucrats, who are always ready to fully cooperate with the industrialists, the chief minister said. “The credit goes to our bureaucrats that the state is best when it comes to the ease of doing business,” she said.

Speaking on the occasion, chief minister indirectly admitted that without fresh investments Bengal cannot develop economically. “Just as the state cannot move ahead without proper agricultural development, similarly without industrial progress the state cannot develop economically. So we will have to ensure that the industrialists can run their business peacefully in the state,” Miss Banerjee said.
Even as the BGBS missed the Union ministers, Miss Banerjee said that the huge presence of the industry bigwigs proves that the meet has been successful and aptly justifies that ‘Bengal means Business’. This time the meet is ‘Top of the top’, she added.

The galaxy of industrialists present on the occasion applauded Miss Banerjee.

Mr Lakshmi Mittal, chairman and CEO of ArcelorMittal, the world’s biggest steelmaker said Miss Banerjee has understood the expectations from industrialists very well. Political stability, good infrastructure, limited bureaucracy makes the state a good investment destination, he said, adding that the state government was doing well in the social infrastructure sector. Mr Mittal extended all assistance and assured to do the same in future. Miss Banerjee who had met Mr Mittal during her trip to London last year had invited the couple to attend BGBS.

Mr Sajjan Jindal, MD JSW Group said that the state has undergone an “amazing transformation” in the last six years.

Uday Kotak, the executive vice-chairman and managing director of Kotak Mahindra Bank said that the mindset of Bengal has significantly changed in the last few years.