President’s Vision
This year, the overarching focus of the Chamber would be at fulfilling 3 distinct but interconnected roles:
- Being of use to the Business Fraternity
- Being of use to the Government
- Being of use to the People.
In doing so, we would like to adopt the Theme, ‘Looking Back to Think Ahead’. Towards realization of this stated objective, we have had a few mega events in the past month of September & ongoing month of October 2016.
- Chamber Events and Government Meetings since AGM 2016 on Sept 14th 2016 till date.
| v 14th September 2016 | : | AGM |
| v 15th September 2016 | : | Challenges & Prospects of Folk Rice Marketing – A Way Forward held at Fulia, Nadia Agricultural Centre |
| v 15th September 2016 | : | Skill Development for Young Engineers to Reform the Core Sector : Vision 2025. 49th Engineers’s Day Celebration in association with BCC&I. |
| v 16th September 2016 | Technology Meet featuring Ready Business Solutions along with Vodafone | |
| v 17th September 2016 | : | Changing Face of Communication |
| v 19th September 2016 | : | Chamber’s Felicitation of Dipa Karmakar |
| v 22nd September 2016 | : | Inauguration of Mega Trade Fair at Vizag |
| v 24th September 2016 | : | E Business Summit |
| v 28th September 2016 | : | Indo-Russia Opportunities and Scope – An Interactive Session on IT |
| v 29th September 2016 | : | BCC&I’s Infrastructure Summit |
| v 1st October 2016 | : | “Science Circle Lecture’ on “Advance Manufacturing thru Convergence of Micro & Nano Technologies”. |
| v 4th October 2016 | : | Interactive Session with Mr Patrick Santillo, the new Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs, US Embassy, New Delhi. |
| v 18th October 2016 | : | His Excellency Nils Ragnar Kamsvag, Ambassador of Norway to India. |
| v 20th October 2016 | : | Press Conference with Chamber Office Bearers |
Meetings with Secretaries
| v 21st September 2016 | : | Shri Debashis Sen, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary in Charge of Urban Development & Town & Country Planning, Government of West Bengal. |
| v 3rd October 2016 | : | Shri Dushyant Nariala, IAS, Secretary School Education, Government of West Bengal. |
| v 19th October 2016 | : | Dr Sanjeev Chopra, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture, Government of West Bengal.
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A few other imminent programs in line with few of the major focus areas of the Chamber are lined up till the closing stages of 2016.
Upcoming Events till December 2016
| Calcutta Talks | 4th November 2016 | Chamber premises |
| Business Delegation to Russia | 7th November – 12th November, 2016 | |
| The Annual Shipping Conclave on “Maritime Infrastructure Developments in East & North-East India” | 11th November,2016 | Chamber premises |
| Conference on Self Sufficiency in Pulses : Challenges and Way Forward | 19th,20th November,2016 | Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan |
| Certificate Course on Indirect Taxes (inlcuding GST) | 18th,19th, 25th, 26th November,2016, 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th December, 2016 | Chamber premises |
| THINK Lecture Series with Mr K B S Anand, MD & CEO, Asian Paints | 21st November 2016 | Chamber premises |
| Cadaver Daan – a programme on Organ Donation | 26th November, 2016 | Chamber premises |
| Annual Bengal Chamber Golf 2016 | 2nd, 3rd December, 2016 | Tollygunge Club |
| BCC&I EXIM Summit 2016 | 17th December 2016 (Tentative) |
We would like to strengthen our activities in the north eastern part of the State through our presence in Siliguri, bolster our activities in the Durgapur – Asansol – Raniganj Industrial Belt and work in the north eastern princely states of Tripura, Meghalaya, et al and act across a larger canvas to have a pan India presence.
We would like to showcase the strengths of our State through telling publications on GST, Tajpur Port with its associated facilities, Nuclear Power, Tourism, as we strongly believe that the State is suitably positioned to derive tangible advantages from such interventions, or development and propagation of such sectors.
The overarching focus has been the continued thrust towards bringing new markets and overseas partners to work with business and industry in the State. In tune with that, we would be taking International Delegation to Russia in November and. The US would get top priority next year.
As for Working for the people, this would receive very close attention from the Chamber this year. Improvement of Quality of Life as interventions at Rabindra Sarobar, enhancement of our Son-et-Lumiere at Victoria Memorial, joining hands with the Indian Museum are some of the programmes outlined.
The Bengal Chamber came up with its Calcutta Gallery dedicated to our Eternal City, which is a pictorial journey down the hallowed pathways of the industrial and business history of Kolkata. On the occasion of The Bengal Chamber’s AGM on 14th September 2016, The Calcutta Gallery was inaugurated by Dr. Amit Mitra, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Commerce & Industries, Finance & Excise, Industrial Reconstruction & Public Enterprises, Govt. of West Bengal. The Gallery is the first of its kind which portrays 325 years’ glorious tradition of Calcutta through a rare collection of photographs of the iconic City. It is housed at 1st Floor of the Chamber premises. The Book titled “Extraordinary Personalities from Bengal: A Tribute By The Bengal Chamber”, chronicling the life and deeds of 12 outstanding gentleman was published and released at the AGM.
Thus, programmes / projects / events / publications / advocacy in a plethora of avenues would continue unabated to bolster and reinforce the Chambers’ acknowledged position as a lead accelerator in Nation Building.
The Chamber with its collective wisdom in areas of trade, commerce and industry and also advocacy services would surely like to continue with its role of partnering with the Government of West Bengal to steer the developmental activities for the betterment of the people of Bengal.
The motto would thus be to, ‘Enjoy the Chamber’.
Update on The lounge
For the last 10 years and more this lounge was run by Asian Hotels as The Palladian Lounge.
After their exit, the mantle was handed over to 6, Ballygunge Place.
A complete refurbishment to start off with, a new menu, smart uniforms and Food high on taste. Right in the midst of Dalhousie, a Restaurant cum Bar, having an ambience of an Old British club in an heritage building shall surely find favour with the office goers of KOLKATA.
Other than the lounge – 6, Ballygunge shall also manage the extensive conference facilities and shall promote social functions in these hallowed halls.
Priced very competitively in the era of high priced banqueting venues, this shall be a surprise change for guests planning to have a get together, anniversaries and so on.
A special discount rate shall be offered to BCC&I members to rope in more footfalls.
Furthermore this lounge has hosted many an event and we want to carry on the tradition by promoting book launches, painting exhibitions, debates and so on.