The 8th edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) 2025 took place on February 5-6 in Kolkata, reinforcing West Bengal’s position as a rising economic hub. The state has been attracting significant investments across industries, including manufacturing, IT, cement, leather, iron & steel, and textiles.

West Bengal continues to be among India’s fastest-growing states, with its GSDP projected to reach ₹18.79 lakh crore in 2024-25. The state’s strategic location, skilled workforce, and business-friendly policies have fueled its growth, making it the largest economy in Eastern India and the 4th largest in the country in terms of net value added.

A key highlight of the summit was the panel discussion on the leather industry held on February 6, 2025. During the session, CSIR-CLRI and MSME West Bengal exchanged an MoU to establish a new testing laboratory at CLCTA.

This initiative, conducted in the presence of West Bengal’s Chief Minister, aims to strengthen the state’s leather sector by enhancing testing infrastructure.

West Bengal’s leather industry benefits from a skilled workforce, strategic geographic positioning, and well-developed infrastructure.

The state government has introduced several supportive policies to boost this sector. The Leather Complex Policy offers land at subsidized rates, lowering initial capital costs for investors. Additionally, the Mega Leather Cluster Scheme provides financial assistance for infrastructure development, improving operational efficiency and scalability.

These efforts create a favorable investment climate, making West Bengal a leading destination for stakeholders in the leather industry.