Mamata Banerjee reaches London for trade talks, Oxford speech after delay

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived in London after an 18-hour journey, including a layover in Dubai. She is accompanied by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, Industry Secretary Vandana Yadav, security head Piyush Pandey, and Principal Secretary Gautam Sanyal. Industrialists Satyam Roy Chowdhury and Umesh Chowdhury also traveled on the same flight, while Ujjwal Sinha and Mehul Mohanka are arriving from Dubai. Abhishek Banerjee’s mother, Lata Banerjee, is also part of the delegation.

Mamata is staying at St. James’ Court Hotel, located near Buckingham Palace, where she has previously lodged during official visits. On Sunday, with no scheduled meetings, she was seen walking in a nearby park. Her official engagements begin on Monday with a special event at the Indian High Commission, where discussions on trade and investment are expected.

On Tuesday, she will attend a business summit with industry leaders, focusing on Bengal’s investment potential. Wednesday’s agenda includes high-level trade discussions between the Bengal government and global business representatives. Several other Indian industrialists are expected to join these meetings, expanding business outreach.

Mamata will address Oxford University on Thursday, speaking on social development. The visit is expected to strengthen Bengal’s global engagement in academic and economic sectors. Her return journey is scheduled for Friday, with a flight from London to Kolkata via Dubai.

Her departure was initially delayed due to a power outage at Heathrow Airport, which temporarily halted operations at Britain’s busiest airport. Despite the disruption, she ensured that her delegation traveled together. Her itinerary remains focused on trade, investment, and academic collaboration.