Recent studies indicate that the State of West Bengal is poised to be the next generation electronics hub. The State has 4% share in the Nation’s electronic goods output. With the Government giving a thrust to the Electronics Industry, the State Government is proactively creating an efficient ecosystem for prospective investors and entrepreneurs in this sector.

Besides recommendations from two high-powered committees on IT Software and Hardware – New WB ICT Policy 2012 and ICT Incentive Scheme 2012 have been published where areas have already been identified and earmarked for rapid action in the next few years for the hardware sector. Furthermore, more than ten Software/Hardware parks are being set up in the State.

The Bengal Chamber organized a programme on “Opportunities for MSME Industry in Electronic and Hardware Industry in West Bengal” at the Williamson Magor Hall in the Chamber premises. The seminar was addressed by eminent policy makers from the Government of West Bengal, who shed light on not only the Government’s initiative on the electronics hardware sector but also on the measures being taken and planned for the development of the MSME sector in the State.

The Bengal Chamber had submitted certain recommendations for development of Electronics manufacturing in the State, to Dr. Satish Chandra Tewari, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of West Bengal, Dept. of IT, on 30th June. We sincerely believe that the Government will look into the points and make the necessary implementations.

The delegates and speakers deliberated on topics like – ‘Role of the Government and the Opportunities of MSME in Electronics and Hardware Sector’, and ‘Government Schemes, Financial Opportunities, Latest Innovations and Technology’. Speakers included Mr. Hirak Sengupta (Chairman, WEBEL), Mr. Biswanath Bhattacharya (President, FOSMI), Mr. Manajit Nayak (Joint Director, STPI), Mr. NN Debnath (Director, MSME), Dr. SP Gon Chaudhuri (Director, WBG – Energy Cell) and Dr. Ajoy Roy (VC, BESU), among others.