Bengal to pay ₹10,000 crore incentive arrears, MSMEs first

For listed companies with manufacturing units in West Bengal, the announcement provides a clearer path to recovering stuck government dues. MSMEs, which often rely on such incentives for working capital, stand to benefit first. The preference order, however, has not been formally detailed.

Dasgupta also said the state’s new industrial policy would be ready by September 15, later than the earlier target of August 15. “We initially underestimated the challenges,” he said. The policy is expected to include special benefits for companies that have their registered office in the state – a “son of the soil” clause that Dasgupta said was absent in the previous framework.

Industry bodies have urged the government to reinstate incentives quickly to rebuild trust. The phased payment plan, combined with a clear policy timeline, signals an attempt to stabilise the investment climate in a state that has seen capital outflow in recent years. The September 15 deadline for the industrial policy is the next concrete marker for businesses watching the turnaround.