Kolkata, Oct 13 West Bengal Industry Minister Tapas Roy on Tuesday said that the government will also introduce a policy on compressed biogas (CBG) under the Centre’s GOBARdhan initiative.
GOBARdhan stands for Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan. It is the government’s programme to turn organic waste such as cattle dung, agricultural residue, food waste and other biomass into useful products such as biogas, CBG and organic manure.
The industry minister also said that the department is preparing a comprehensive CBG policy to drive sustainable energy and attract investment.
The state’s new industrial policy will be announced after Durga Puja, Roy said.
Speaking at an event organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the minister tried to present a broad framework under the new BJP government to accelerate the state’s industrial and economic growth before the envoys of various countries.
The framework proposes an industrial promotion strategy with clear incentives, time-bound approvals, institutional handholding and upfront disbursal of industrial incentives.
To address land requirements, the state has created a GIS-based industrial land bank that maps unutilised land across industrial parks, with details of cleared titles, encumbrance status and infrastructure. A single-window clearance system with strict service-level timelines has also been put in place.
The state will prioritise large and heavy manufacturing, engineering, steel, chemicals and IT-based industries, as well as traditional sectors such as jute, tea, textiles, garments, gems and jewellery, and port logistics, according to the framework.
It emphasised exports, drawing on India’s recent free trade agreements with the EU, New Zealand, Oman and the UK, and upcoming pacts with European nations.
To boost the startup ecosystem, the policy includes Global Capability Centre (GCC) frameworks and venture capital support. Under ease of doing business reforms, projects below Rs 100 crore will be exempt from separate local body approvals, and steps have been taken to protect businesses from syndicate charges and extortion.
State Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta spoke of deepening commercial integration between India and international markets, saying that decades of bilateral growth reflect a mutual desire for closer economic exchange.
He said the state’s outreach aligns with growing interest from North American and European partners.
A group of ministers on investment has been formed to fast-track proposals, following a stakeholder meeting on August 11, 2026.
Projects in the pipeline include semiconductor discussions with Mitsubishi, Blackstone, ArcelorMittal and Daesung, and a proposed deep-sea port in Purba Medinipur district and a greenfield airport at Kalyani.
Diplomats and trade delegations from Japan, South Korea, the US, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Ireland and Germany have expressed keen interest in investing, the minister said.
The administration is also reaching out to the diaspora with roots in West Bengal to invite their participation in the state’s economic expansion.
(PTI News)
