Key Points:
- Mamata Banerjee’s UK Visit: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee departs for London today (March 21) for a week-long tour.
- Oxford Lecture: She will deliver a lecture at Oxford University on March 27, focusing on social development and women empowerment.
- Investment Push: Banerjee will meet industrialists on March 25 to pitch investment opportunities in Bengal.
- Administrative Task Force: A special team of ministers and officials will manage state governance during her absence.
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is set to embark on a seven-day visit to London starting today, March 21. During the trip, she will deliver a lecture at Oxford University and participate in key events aimed at promoting Bengal’s business prospects and cultural heritage. This marks her second visit to the UK, following her 2017 trip to Edinburgh for a business meeting.
Itinerary Highlights:
- March 24: Banerjee will attend a program organized by the Indian High Commission in London.
- March 25: The Bengal Global Business Summit, hosted by the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) with support from UK India Business Council and FICCI, will see her engaging with business leaders from various sectors.
- March 26: She will participate in a government-to-government (G2G) program to strengthen ties between Bengal and the UK.
- March 27: Her much-anticipated lecture at Oxford University’s Kellogg College will focus on women-centric development initiatives like the award-winning Kanyashree scheme.
- March 28: Banerjee returns to Kolkata.
Governance During Absence
To ensure seamless administration, Banerjee has formed a special task force comprising five senior ministers Firhad Hakim, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Arup Biswas, Dr. Shashi Panja, and Sujit Bose as well as top bureaucrats like Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty, Finance Secretary Prabhat Mishra, Land Secretary Vivek Kumar, DGP Rajeev Kumar, and Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma. This team will monitor state affairs and coordinate with her remotely.
Strategic Goals of the Visit
Banerjee aims to attract investments for Bengal by showcasing the state’s potential in sectors like information technology, tourism, and green energy. Her lecture at Oxford University is expected to highlight Bengal’s achievements in social welfare programs and cultural richness.
Political Controversy
Ahead of her visit, Banerjee criticized opposition parties for attempting to tarnish her image internationally. Allegations of defamatory emails sent to Oxford University have surfaced, which she claims are part of a “dirty game” aimed at discrediting her government.
This visit follows her successful trips to Spain and Dubai in 2023, where she secured investment proposals and strengthened global ties. With business leaders and industrialists accompanying her this time as well, expectations are high for fruitful outcomes from this London tour.
