Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will engage with more than 12,000 traders at the ‘Byabasayi Sammelan 2025’ on December 17. The outreach comes ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, with a business meeting scheduled for December 18, replacing the usual international business summit due to upcoming polls.
The conference is positioned as a key platform for the state government to connect with the massive MSME-backed trading community. According to CWBTA president Sushil Poddar, the event will enable Banerjee to address the needs of small traders who are central to Bengal’s supply chain. The state has 60–65 lakh traders, supporting livelihoods for over one crore people.
Traders also play a crucial role in linking Bengal with neighbouring markets, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. The event will highlight issues such as modernising trade infrastructure, improving ease of doing business, and resolving ground-level challenges.
Delegations from all 23 districts are expected to attend. With no international business summit this year, the Sammelan serves as a major platform to strengthen government-industry ties ahead of key elections.
