The West Bengal government would not follow the Gujarat model of industrialisation, but will rebuild the state’s industry in its own way, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said today while stating that time was of essence.

To a query from an industrialist, Banerjee said her government would not follow the Gujarat model of industrialisation.

‘Gujarat is Gujarat, Bengal is Bengal. In Bengal, there was no regime change for over three decades. But in Gujarat during this time different parties have been in the government. So there was competition there.’

“We will not adopt the Gujarat model for industry, but will rebuild and rejuvenate industry in our state in our own way,” Banerjee said during her first interaction with industrialists here.

Banerjee said the governments of Japan and the US have invited business delegations from West Bengal. ‘A delegation from Japan will also come to the city in October.’

Banerjee said it would be the endeavor of her government to rebuild Bengal’s industry which had lagged far behind in the past 34 years. The industrialists with whom the chief minister interacted included SK Birla.

Banerjee formed a 23-member core group comprising representatives of chambers of commerce, ministers and bureaucrats to decide various issues related to industrialisation in the state.

‘This core committee will sort out the problems related to industrialisation. They will decide on the future of industrialisation,’ Banerjee said at the two-hour interaction.