Kolkata, Nov. 5 -- Industry leaders have welcomed the West Bengal Investment Promotion Policy, 2026, unveiled by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday, expressing optimism that it would attract fresh investments and generate employment.
PATTON Group managing director Sanjay Budhia said the policy could be a game changer for industry, with a multiplier effect on employment, infrastructure development and ancillary units. He welcomed the proposed simplification of land laws, revival of sick industries, employment-linked incentives and fixed timelines for clearances.
Ambuja Neotia Group chairman Harshvardhan Neotia welcomed the emphasis on a unified single-window system, faster clearances and transparent land allocation. He also highlighted incentives for employment, women's workforce participation, research and development and emerging sectors.
Merlin Group chairman and CREDAI West Bengal president Sushil Mohta said the policy was a good beginning and expressed hope that the government would introduce progressive reforms in land laws and urban development to boost real estate. Primarc managing director and former CREDAI Bengal president Siddharth Pansari said industrial expansion could generate demand for housing, offices, retail spaces and supporting infrastructure, creating opportunities beyond Kolkata.
Bharat Chamber of Commerce president Naresh Pachisia termed the policy a welcome move towards creating an industry-oriented ecosystem, highlighting electricity duty and lease rent subsidies, assistance for sick and closed units and time-bound disbursement of incentives.
Jupiter Wagons Limited managing director Vivek Lohia said the policy addressed three critical investment considerations - land, approval timelines and employment-linked incentives. The company plans to invest an additional Rs 3,000 crore in Bengal. Merchants' Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Munish Jhajharia welcomed the proposed land bank and incentives for women employees, besides the focus on IT, semiconductors and electronics.
ASSOCHAM Eastern Region Council chairman Taranjit Singh and co-chairman Sanjib Patwari stressed the importance of infrastructure development, investor facilitation and sustained engagement between the government and industry.
Keventer Group chairman and managing director Mayank Jalan welcomed the time-bound approval mechanism, while Jupiter International Limited CEO Dhruv Sharma highlighted incentives for manufacturing, research and green energy.
Purti Realty managing director Mahesh Agarwal said the policy could encourage investment in industrial parks, warehousing, logistics and residential development around emerging employment hubs.
CII Eastern Region chairman Mehul Mohanka, also managing director and group CEO of Tega Industries, said the measures would boost advanced manufacturing, exports and investor confidence.
Rudra Chatterjee, managing director of Luxmi Group and chairman of Obeetee, highlighted the focus on employment-intensive sectors such as textiles and food processing, besides incentives linked to investment and job creation.
Woodlands Multispeciality Hospital managing director and CEO Rupak Barua welcomed the EPF reimbursement provision, particularly the enhanced support for women and transgender employees in MSMEs. Titagarh Rail Systems deputy managing director Prithish Chowdhary welcomed the inclusion of defence, shipbuilding and automobile manufacturing among priority investment areas, besides incentives for research and development, technology adoption and industrial expansion.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.