Kolkata | 13 October 2026: The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), under the Presidency of Mr. Parthiv Neotia, hosted Diplomats and Heads of Missions from 12 countries for a two-day engagement in Kolkata aimed at strengthening bilateral business relationships and exploring new opportunities for international collaboration. Mr. Parthiv Neotia who is also the Managing Director, Ambuja Neotia – Healthcare, recently assumed the Presidency of the ICC.

The initiative comes at a time when India pursues its ambition of becoming a $7 trillion economy by 2030 and a $30 trillion economy by 2047, aligned with the larger vision of Viksit Bharat. Eastern India, with its industrial capabilities, strategic location and emerging opportunities across infrastructure, manufacturing, technology, tourism and services, has an important role to play in this journey. Recognizing the importance of stronger global partnerships in realizing this potential, ICC brought together international representatives for business deliberations alongside an experience of Bengal’s Durga Puja celebrations.

Diplomats and Heads of Missions from Germany, Australia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Italy, Thailand, Cyprus, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia participated in discussions exploring bilateral trade, investment opportunities and greater institutional cooperation.

The engagement is also an extension of UNITE, the theme introduced by Mr. Parthiv Neotia upon assuming the Presidency of ICC. The vision seeks to bring businesses, institutions, governments and international stakeholders closer together, creating stronger connections between markets, capital, knowledge and opportunities to support India’s economic aspirations.

Welcoming the diplomats, Mr. Parthiv Neotia, President, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Managing Director, Ambuja Neotia- Healthcare said, ” As we work towards the vision of Viksit Bharat, international collaborations can help Indian businesses reach new markets, strengthen manufacturing, adopt new technologies, and participate more meaningfully in global value chains. Collaborations can also create opportunities for learning, innovation, and employment alike. Within the larger national ambition, West Bengal plays a significant role. Located at the crossroads of eastern India, the Bay of Bengal, the South and Southeast Asia, the state is well-placed to serve as India’s eastern gateway to a wider region. Its ports, transport network, industrial ecosystem, skilled workforce, proximity to neighboring markets, provide a strong foundation for a deeper international engagement. Furthermore, Durga Puja offers a wonderful occasion to introduce our international guests to Bengal’s creativity, traditions and people, alongside its business potential.”

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Swapan Dasgupta, Hon’ble Finance Minister, Government of West Bengal, said, “Over the last decade India has come a long way in transforming its economic landscape, wherein Global Partners have been trying to get a slice of the Indian Market and the Indian Businesses have made significant inroads in the Global Market.  I am glad to state, that we are working towards making West Bengal an economy that is open to all and presents opportunities that not only benefit our people but also those National and International Stakeholders who choose to collaborate with us.”

Minister-in-Charge for Industry, Commerce & Enterprises, Public Enterprises & Industrial Reconstruction, and Non-Conventional and Renewable Energy Sources, Government of West Bengal, Shri. Tapas Roy addressing the gathering said, “Our focus is on promoting modern industries through time-bound approvals, investment incentives, improved ease of doing business and the development of a GIS-based industrial land bank. We are prioritizing sectors such as engineering, steel, chemicals, semiconductors and IT, alongside traditional industries, while strengthening export-oriented commerce and startup support. Our objective is to accelerate industrial and economic growth and generate employment. I urge the industry and international business community to extend their cooperation and join us in this endeavor.”

During the summit, The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) released Bengal 2.0: From Here to Eternity, a book examining West Bengal’s economic journey and outlining a roadmap for its revival. This book identifies significant strengths on which this revival can be built, including Bengal’s extensive MSME ecosystem, agricultural leadership, port infrastructure, talent pool and strategic location as a gateway to the North-East and neighboring countries. It highlights that these advantages, supported by a conducive investment environment and effective coordination between the State and the Centre, can help unlock a new phase of growth.

Following the business deliberations, the visiting delegation experienced Kolkata’s Durga Puja celebrations by visiting select pandals.  Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Durga Puja offered the diplomats a glimpse into Bengal’s artistic traditions, craftsmanship and community spirit. The visits also provided an opportunity to appreciate the cultural significance of the festival and the creativity that brings communities together in celebration.

By bringing together economic dialogue and cultural experiences, ICC sought to foster a deeper understanding of Eastern India and build relationships that extend beyond formal business interactions. The initiative reflects the Chamber’s broader ambition to strengthen the region’s international engagement and contribute to India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047.

try (PHDCCI), Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, congratulated the PHDCCI on completing 121 years and highlighted India’s economic transformation, growing global role and ambition to emerge as a trusted partner in international trade.

Emphasising the importance of converting adversity into opportunity, he underscored the need for convenient action, nimble thinking and timely decision-making to sustain growth, strengthen competitiveness and unlock new avenues for businesses.

The Minister highlighted India’s demographic strengths, expanding domestic consumption, skilled talent pool and adoption of modern technologies as important drivers of the country’s growth story. As a young nation and one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, India is positioned to expand its contribution to global value chains, attract investment and develop new areas of economic activity.

Highlighting the importance of international economic engagement, Shri Goyal emphasised that trade agreements can create opportunities for Indian businesses to access new markets, diversify exports and strengthen integration with global supply chains. The signing of the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement marks an important development in India’s trade engagement with the United Kingdom.

India’s ongoing and prospective trade negotiations, including engagement with Canada, reflect the broader objective of expanding market access and establishing mutually beneficial economic partnerships. Such agreements must translate into tangible opportunities for Indian industry, exporters, farmers and MSMEs while taking account of the interests of domestic stakeholders.

The Minister stressed the importance of consultations with MSMEs, farmers, industry representatives and other stakeholders in shaping trade and development priorities. Their participation is essential to ensure that the benefits of international trade reach businesses of different sizes, support employment generation and strengthen domestic productive capacity.

India’s aspiration to become a US$ 10 trillion economy will require sustained investment, higher productivity, technological advancement, innovation and a competitive manufacturing and services ecosystem. Achieving this ambition will depend on expanding productive capacity, improving the ease of doing business, strengthening infrastructure and enabling enterprises to scale up.

The Minister highlighted export expansion as a central component of this growth trajectory. Building on India’s export performance in recent years, the country aims to increase its global market share, diversify its export basket and strengthen the competitiveness of Indian products and services.

India’s stated ambition of reaching US$ 1 trillion in exports in FY 2026–27, with a targeted growth rate of 15%, underscores the importance of market diversification, quality improvement, reliable delivery, technology adoption and stronger participation in global value chains. Progress towards this objective will require coordinated efforts by the government, industry, exporters and trade-support institutions.

Attracting foreign direct investment and strengthening India’s position as an international business destination remain important priorities. India’s talent base, domestic market, digital infrastructure and expanding technological capabilities provide opportunities for global companies to establish and expand their operations in the country.

The growth of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) reflects India’s expanding role in knowledge-intensive services, research, technology, analytics and global business operations. The expansion of these centres can support high-value employment, knowledge transfer, innovation and the development of specialised skills.

India’s investment strategy must continue to focus on converting investor interest into productive capacity, technology transfer, employment and stronger domestic supplier networks. A predictable business environment, efficient approvals and effective coordination between government and industry will be important in this regard.

The Minister highlighted the role of modern technologies in improving productivity, enabling innovation and strengthening India’s competitiveness. Wider adoption of digital tools, automation, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies can help Indian enterprises improve quality, reduce costs and respond more effectively to changing global demand.

Skilling and human capital development will be equally important. As a young nation, India has an opportunity to strengthen its workforce through industry-aligned training, vocational education, reskilling and greater collaboration between educational institutions and employers.

The development agenda must remain responsive to the needs of MSMEs, farmers, workers and emerging industries. Linking skills with actual economic opportunities will be essential to support employment, entrepreneurship and inclusive growth.

India’s experience during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of domestic manufacturing capabilities, resilient supply chains and international cooperation. The development and production of vaccines in India, alongside the country’s vaccination programme and vaccine supplies to other countries, illustrated the contribution that domestic scientific and industrial capacity can make to global public health.

This experience reinforces the wider importance of building reliable domestic supply chains while remaining engaged with international markets. India’s role as a trusted partner will depend on consistent quality, dependable delivery, transparent business practices, technological capability and sustained cooperation with trading partners.

The ambition of reaching a US$ 10 trillion economy requires sustained collaboration among government, industry, MSMEs, farmers, exporters, investors and educational institutions. Timely decisions, nimble policy responses and an enabling business environment will remain important to converting emerging opportunities into durable economic outcomes.

Shri Rajeev Juneja, President, PHDCCI formally welcomed Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India and said that PHDCCI is one of the oldest chambers of commerce representing MSMEs and its a real honour to have Shri Piyush ji on this occasion. PHDCCI is the “VOICE” of trade and industry, boosting MSMEs, Start-ups and technology alike.

Shri Anil Gupta, Vice President, PHDCCI delivered the vote of thanks. The occasion was graced by Shri Sanjay Singhania, Vice President, Dr Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI, along with President and Vice President, PHDCCI; former Presidents, members of the Managing Committee, industry stalwarts, diplomats, and members of the media.