Infrastructure sector is a key driver for the Indian economy. India has a vision to become a five trillion dollar economy in the next five years and a ten trillion dollar economy in the next eight years thereafter. To achieve the GDP of $5 trillion by 2024-25, infrastructure investment needs to increase proportionately to attain these targets. The investment gaps in the infrastructure would have to be addressed through various innovative approaches with the collaboration of both public and private sector. In this context, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized the "BCC&I Infrastructure Conclave-Shaping India: The Craftsmanship of Infrastructure" on January 17, 2020 at WM Hall, Bengal Chamber premises, Kolkata.

The Opening Session of the Conclave was addressed by Mr. Sutirtha Bhattacharya, IAS (Retd.), Chairman, West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission, Mr. S. Balaji Arunkumar, IRTS, Dy. Chairman, KDS, Kolkata Port Trust, Mr. Abhishek Chandra, IAS, Director (Sagarmala) Ministry of Shipping, Government of India, Mr. Sanjay Kumar Singh, General Manager (Structuring), Project Finance & Structuring, State Bank of India, Mr. Dhruv Bhalla, Sr. Vice President, Head-International Relations & Brand Communication, Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited, Mr. D.K. Barik, Project Manager-Sambalpur-Rourkela Tollways Limited (SRTL), LnT. Mr. Deb A Mukherjee, President Designate, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry delivered the Opening address.

The Conclave was structured into the Opening Session with the Theme: "Shaping India: The Craftsmanship of Infrastructure" and the Executive Track Sessions focused on the Connectivity issues and the Energy sector. The Executive Track I: "Connecting India: Road, Rail, Water" was addressed by Mr. Harsimran Singh, IRSE, Chief Project Manager, RVNL, Mr. L K Rajak, Director, IWAI and Mr. Neil Banerjee, Regional Director-East & South, Heavy Infrastructure, AECOM. The Executive Track II: "Energy Sector - The Growth Engine of India" was addressed by Mr. Pramod Singh, President - Regulatory & Commercial, India Power Corporation Ltd. and Mr. Souvik Biswas, Assistant Manager-East & NE, Indian Energy Exchange.

Speaking at the Conclave, Mr Abhishek Chandra, IAS, Director (Sagarmala), Ministry of Shipping, Government of India highlighted that the Sagarmala program objectives are Reduced logistics cost for EXIM and domestic trade with minimal infrastructure investment, double share of domestic waterways (inland & coastal) in the modal mix from 6% to 12% by 2025, Lowering Logistics Costs of bulk commodities by locating future industrial capacities near the coast, Optimizing time and cost of EXIM containers movement and also creating jobs and bridge skill gap in ports and maritime sector.

Mr. Chandra also mentioned that under the Sagarmala program, 196 project worth Rs. 2,95,128 crores are under implementation and 125 projects worth Rs. 31,445 crore have been completed while 37 projects are under tendering. Coastal shipping traffic has picked up and grown since 2015-16. In 2018-19 the growth of coastal cargo has been 14.3% while the growth of EXIM cargo has been 4.9%. At the start of Sagarmala Programme, coastal cargo was ~12% of total cargo volume while in 2018-19 this has grown to ~20%. The Action Plan to increase the volume of coastal cargo from 120 MTPA to ~337 MTPA by 2025 has been developed in association with Asian Development Bank.

Mr. S Balaji Arunkumar, IRTS, Dy. Chairman, KDS, Kolkata Port Trust stated that as far as infrastructure is concerned, the ports play a vital role. Port infrastructure in western side of India is far ahead than eastern side. But in the last five years eastern sector, especially Kolkata port has improved substantially in cargo shipping.

Mr. Sutirtha Bhattacharya, IAS (Retd.), Chairman, West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission in his address mentioned that the primary definition of infrastructure is something that benefits people, brings about equity and helps other sectors to grow. He advised that the stakeholders must articulate their vision in terms of infrastructure requirement.

The Conclave was attended by around 130 participants and received wide spread media coverage.