Kolkota - Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, is set to participate in a three-day business summit in Spain, where she is actively seeking investments for her state. Accompanying her are Chief Secretary H K Dwivedi, along with other high-ranking state government officials and representatives from various industries. The primary objective of this mission is to attract investments for the upcoming Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) scheduled to take place in Kolkata on November 21-22.

Despite criticisms from the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress, who have voiced their disapproval of Banerjee's foreign tour, she remains resolute in her efforts.

Spain, with its thriving manufacturing and other industries, has extended an invitation to West Bengal, and Spain had also partnered with Bengal in the International Book Fair earlier this year, strengthening the cultural and business ties between the regions.

In addition to her visit to Spain, Banerjee is scheduled to attend another business summit in Dubai, aimed at furthering investment prospects for her state.

Banerjee's journey began with her departure for Dubai from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. She is expected to arrive in Madrid, the capital of Spain, on Wednesday. Notably, her delegation includes senior representatives from renowned Calcutta football clubs such as Mohun Bagan, East Bengal etc.

Banerjee has also announced that former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly will join her delegation in Madrid, emphasizing her commitment to advancing the development of football in Bengal.

While Banerjee remains optimistic about her mission, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Chief, has criticized her track record, suggesting that she has not effectively attracted investments to the state and implying that taxpayer money is being wasted.

Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition, has taken issue with Banerjee's use of Dubai as a transit point and has raised concerns about the security of her family's financial assets sent through informal channels. He has stressed the importance of her foreign visit producing tangible benefits for West Bengal.