MAMATA ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF DEOCHA PACHAMI PROJECT

'BGBS aims to secure future of Bengal's youth, create jobs'

- SOUMITRA NANDI

On the first day of the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) where investment proposals to the tune of Rs 91,000 crore were received, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the Deocha-Pachami project, Asia's second-largest coal mine, will commence on Thursday with basalt mining while also confirming to the media later that Tata Group chairman N Chandrasekaran has expressed his desire of investing in Bengal.

Countering the Opposition's claim that the BGBS is a "futile exercise" to attract industry, Banerjee asserted that the event is designed to boost investment, generate employment and build a brighter future for the state's youth and upcoming generations.

"Some people ask me why I am holding this business summit. I tell them that we started it but now every other state is following suit. Without employment, our young generation will not survive. For them, we have to go ahead. Bengal is one of the safest and smartest investment destinations," Banerjee said, adding she has been invited by Japan to visit their country.

She highlighted that in the last seven editions investment proposals of over Rs 19.51 lakh crore were received. "I am happy to inform you that projects worth more than Rs 12 lakh crore have already taken off.