Suvendu Adhikari urges Vedanta to invest in Bengal, create 10,000 jobs; Anil Agarwal targets $20 billion profit
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Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal met West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari in Kolkata, where the chief minister urged the mining and metals conglomerate to invest in the state and create 10,000 jobs, according to a company communication.
Separately, Agarwal said Vedanta Group is targeting $20 billion in profit over the next two years while addressing members of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and its Young Leaders Forum in Kolkata on Wednesday.
The company has a diversified portfolio spanning aluminium, zinc, oil and gas, power, iron and steel, copper and other critical metals.
Agarwal highlights Bengal's industrial potential
Speaking at the ICC event, Agarwal highlighted West Bengal's skilled workforce, intellectual capital and industrial legacy, saying these offered a foundation for economic growth. He called on businesses to work with the government to unlock investment, enterprise and employment opportunities.
Recalling his early years in Kolkata, Agarwal said his family had lived in the city's Bara Bazar area, where he also attended Jain Vidyalaya, a municipal school. His family had a shop in Tula Patti, and his grandfather and great-grandfather had also lived in the city.
Agarwal said he wanted to build Vedanta into a global institution that could contribute to India's development over generations.
Focus on manufacturing, resource security
Agarwal called for greater self-reliance in natural resources and lower dependence on imports. He highlighted opportunities to expand downstream processing and manufacturing in aluminium, copper and zinc, saying greater domestic value addition could strengthen supply chains and generate employment.
He also pointed to the potential to manufacture specialised glass used in televisions, mobile phones and vehicle dashboards in India, reducing reliance on imports. He called for greater adoption of artificial intelligence, research and development, and innovation to improve industrial competitiveness.
Agarwal said investments in large industrial facilities could stimulate downstream ecosystems, creating opportunities for smaller businesses, suppliers and entrepreneurs.
He also spoke about Vedanta's commitment to 35% women's representation across the organisation, as stipulated in the company's Articles of Association.