West Bengal is the sixth-largest & one of the fastest-growing states in India. The state is also home to a wide range of industries. The importance of West Bengal in India’s economic growth and the robust presence of industries in the state are prime reasons for IGCC’s physical presence in Kolkata.
On 20th & 21st April 2022, the Government of West Bengal organized the sixth edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS). The BGBS is the state’s flagship summit that provides a business platform that aims at forging alliances, tying up partnerships, and acquiring a clear vision to expand business opportunities in the state. The Summit focuses on new investments, greenfield manufacturing projects, and associated activities.
Germany was one of the significant partner countries at the Summit. Within the framework of the Summit, the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), German Machinery and Plant Manufacturers Association (VDMA) and the German Consulate General in Kolkata organized a ‘German Country Lounge’. The German country lounge, which attracted over 470 visitors in two days, consisted of a business conference space and a help desk for Germany’s organizations looking for business opportunities.
The two-day Summit included plenary sessions and sectoral sessions. Stefan Halusa, Director General of IGCC, was one of the esteemed panellists at the sectoral session on ‘Industry’, focusing on MSMEs (Micro,
Small, Medium Enterprises). This session highlighted the different support systems available to businesses in West Bengal looking to expand their scope through business matching, training, and sustainability. In his session address to an audience of over 200, Mr. Halusa introduced the various services of IGCC available to the MSMEs in West Bengal.
One of the other notable speakers was GTAI’s India Director, Seema Bharadwaj, at the session on ‘Services’. The session focused on strategic partnerships with countries in education, training & skill development in
Bengal. Ms. Bharadwaj reflected on the vast possibilities of investments in the academic exchange between India & Germany & the high demand for professionals from India in Germany. Start-ups & digital technologies were the other important topics she included in her speech. The event also launched the upcoming SustainAward 2022 in Industrial Water Management, an award dedicated to honouring industries’ contributions towards water efficiency, zero liquid discharge, and sustainable business practices.