Mamata Banerjee Set for Her First Foreign Trip after 5 Years: WB CM Eyes Investment from Dubai, Spain

After five years, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is all set to go on a foreign trip, to Dubai and Spain.

On September 12, Banerjee will reach Dubai. On September 13, she will reach Madrid and travel to Barcelona by train. She will then return to Dubai and meet non-resident Bengalis and industry leaders.

Travelling with Banerjee will be business and football club management officials. Cricketer Sourav Ganguly, who is currently in London, will also be joining Banerjee in Barcelona.

Banerjee said, “We will stay in Madrid for three days, where we will hold business meetings. We will also meet with the NRIs there. There will be meetings in Barcelona and Dubai. I got a lot of invitations in the past five years, but could not go as I did not get the permissions. This time, I am going and will definitely bring something for Bengal.”

SPORTS INVESTMENT

Management of prominent football clubs such as East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, too, will accompany the CM. As both Bengal and Barcelona are known for football, sources say there are a lot of expectations on the sports front. A senior member in the know of the sports clubs said, “It’s a great opportunity for the sports fraternity. With Ganguly’s presence, we expect a lot of things from the sports angle.”

INVESTMENT FOR BENGAL BUSINESS SUMMIT

The Bengal Business Summit is expected to take place in Kolkata in January. Sources say this Spain trip is Banerjee’s strategy to bring in investment.

Experts say with the Lok Sabha polls scheduled next year, the ruling party wants to boost the image of the party as “pro-investment”.

LITERARY AND CULTURE INVESTMENT

Last time, the Kolkata Book Fair’s theme was Spain and Bengal developed good relations with the country. This time, the Kolkata Book Fair Committee representatives will also accompany Banerjee. More exchange is expected on the cultural front.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is criticising Banerjee’s foreign visit, terming it “nothing but a tour”, Governor of Bengal CV Ananda Bose said: “The Chief Minister is going abroad. I did not want any tension to be given to her. Let there be no baggage when she is on a foreign tour. We will discuss it once she returns.”

Banerjee will return to Kolkata on September 23.