Kolkata, Aug. 27 -- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday called on skilled and educated professionals from the state working elsewhere in India and abroad to return, promising fresh opportunities under the BJP government's "double-engine" model of development.

Inaugurating a new technology campus of LTM Ltd, part of the Larsen & Toubro Group, at New Town, Adhikari said his government's priority was to generate jobs for Bengal's educated youth and restore the state's position as an attractive investment destination.

"There are a huge number of educated unemployed. They need jobs and are very much interested in Bengal," Adhikari said.

He said the government was promoting emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, chip design, automation and digital manufacturing to expand employment opportunities. He also stressed the need for stronger academia-industry partnerships to equip young people with relevant skills and connect them with jobs. Adhikari said the government would facilitate credit and create opportunities for small businesses. "Our vision is clear. Our only mantra is to transform West Bengal," he said.

He also assured LTM of additional land for its expansion, saying the state would provide 10 acres for a proposed data centre. According to Adhikari, the company had approached the government seeking the land around two months ago.

Phase I of LTM's Ananda Niketan IT campus has two buildings spanning nearly eight lakh square feet, with capacity for around 5,800 professionals. Adhikari assured L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan of full government support for the group's future expansion and investments in Bengal.

"LTM is a reputed international player. I assure you that the group will come again and again and invest more. We will cooperate with your team,"

he said. Adhikari also praised the campus for its energy-efficient systems and smart building management, describing it as an example of the kind of technology-driven infrastructure Bengal needs to attract investments and

create jobs.

Subrahmanyan called the facility one of L&T's largest technology investments in eastern India, saying it would serve as an integrated hub for learning and innovation across banking, travel, manufacturing, energy and technology.

The L&T chairman said the group had received approval to construct four more towers at the site, with L&T Realty already working on the remaining buildings.

"I promise you, sir, in a very short while we'll request you to come to inaugurate two more buildings in the same campus," Subrahmanyan

told Adhikari.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.