Mamata Banerjee to Speak at Oxford University on Women’s Empowerment

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is set to address a full house at Oxford University’s prestigious Kellogg College this Thursday evening, with all 200 seats already booked. Due to high demand, an additional 200 people will have the opportunity to attend virtually, as arrangements are being made to view the speech in an adjacent hall.

The Chief Minister will deliver a lecture titled ‘Empowerment of Women in Bengal and its Success’, a topic close to her heart, as she shares the significant strides made in the state towards promoting gender equality. Following the lecture, Banerjee will engage in an interactive discussion with two prominent figures: Professor Jonathan Michie OBE, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University and President of Kellogg College, and Karan Faridoon Bilimoria, known as Baron Billimoria, a member of the House of Lords and former Chancellor of the University of Birmingham.

The invitation to Banerjee came after a meeting with Professor Michie at the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) in November 2023. Originally scheduled for June 2024, the program was moved to this week. The rising interest among Oxford students in attending the event led to the decision to provide virtual access, reflecting the vast enthusiasm surrounding the speech.

While in London, Banerjee also took a stroll through the city’s streets, accompanied by Dona Ganguly, the wife of cricket legend Sourav Ganguly. During her visit, FICCI and the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) arranged several meetings between the CM and top UK business leaders. These discussions aimed to explore collaboration and investment opportunities that would strengthen the economic and industrial ties between Bengal and the UK.

Among the notable figures present at these meetings were Steven Flaherty, CEO of Barclays; Martin Wright, Chairman of Gravitricity; Scott Johnstone, CEO of the Scottish Lifescience Association; and Henry Knowles, a board member at Vesuvius India. Barclays, in particular, is exploring the possibility of establishing a Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Bengal. Gravitricity, an energy storage company, is considering the use of abandoned mineshafts for energy projects. The Scottish Lifescience Association is looking into joint ventures in medical device manufacturing, pharma, diagnostics, and digital health systems. Vesuvius, which already operates in Bengal, is discussing expansion plans for its plant in Taratala.