BS EDIT: West Bengal: Back to the Future

By Business StandardPublished On Jul 15, 2025

The Mamata–Chandrasekaran meeting is heavy with symbolism. Seventeen years after the Singur exit, a Tata return would mark a striking political and economic turn

The state’s struggles with industrial investment are real. Big-ticket investors like JSW, Salim Group, and Videocon have long exited despite headline visits abroad

Despite some digital and service sector growth, Bengal’s FDI share remains below 1%. Its investment climate has not matched that of neighbouring states

Between 2019 and 2024, over 2,200 companies—including 39 listed firms—moved their registered offices out of West Bengal. Investor confidence remains low

Political violence, governance concerns, and refusal to adopt labour reforms continue to cloud Bengal’s image as an investor-friendly state

If Mamata Banerjee is serious about rewriting the state’s economic future, she must move from symbolism to structural change—and quickly