Kolkata, March 12 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the formation of a traders' welfare board on Thursday, a long-standing demand of the business community, and stated that it would serve as an institutional platform between traders and the state government.
Banerjee also said that she had committed to the trading community last year that the government would set up such a welfare board.
"I am very happy to announce the formation and notification of the West Bengal Traders' Welfare Board (WBTWB), which I committed at the State Traders' Convention and the Business & Industry Conclave in December 2025. We are fulfilling our promises," Banerjee said in a post on social media.
Banerjee said that the board would provide an "institutional platform for regular dialogue and coordination" between traders and the government, with representation from every district in the state.
It will work to address the concerns of lakhs of traders, she said.
"This was a long-standing demand of our trading community. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to them," she said.
According to the chief minister, the chairperson of the board will be the president of the Confederation of West Bengal Traders Association (CWBTA), the apex body of traders in the state.
It will ensure strong representation from the trading community itself, she added.
"Our traders are the backbone of Bengal's economy. We remain committed to standing with them and working together to build a stronger, more vibrant economic future for our state," Banerjee said.