History

Calcutta used to be one of India's leading industrial and commercial centers during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Industrialization started early because of Calcutta's stature as the British Empire's second city. In spite of a series of debilitating events - partition, East Pakistani refugees, the Bangladesh war, the collapse of the jute industry and labor unrest,

efforts are on to improve the situation.

Calcutta's traditional industries include jute manufacturing, light and heavy engineering, leather products and tea trading. Other industries include textiles, paper, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, tobacco, food products and glass products. Engineering products include railway wagons, coaches, autos, heavy machinery, frigates and small ships, steel and aluminum. There are many factories which manufacture electrical and electronics products. The public sector Coal India Limited and the Hindustan Copper Limited have their headquarters in Calcutta.

New developments

Recent investment has come in the electronics and software field. The Salt Lakecomplex has several hitech industries and a software export park. An export processing zone - FEPZ has come up at Falta. The state is hoping for some major investments in other parts of the state which will help in Calcutta's economic growth in the long run. The main industrial centres outside Calcutta are Haldia (petrochemicals) and Durgapur (steel plant).

The government also has nodal agencies like WEBEL and WBIDC to look into potential investment and the industrialization of the state