The Bengal government is planning to update its drone sector guidelines to attract more companies and strengthen the state’s position in the industry. IT Minister Babul Supriyo announced on Tuesday that the government would engage with drone companies to make the existing framework more competitive. “We already have existing guidelines, but we aim to upgrade them to attract more investment and make the sector more dynamic,” Supriyo said during an event organized by Assocham. He added that meetings with young drone entrepreneurs have taken place to understand their needs and aspirations, and that a drone academy is also in the works.
In 2020, the state government introduced the West Bengal Drone Technology Promotion Guidelines to promote the use of drone technology for real-time governance and efficient service delivery. The updated policies are expected to further enhance the use of drones in various sectors, including agriculture, logistics, and surveillance.
Supriyo also discussed the state’s efforts to attract GlobalFoundries, a leading semiconductor company. The company is exploring locations for its Research and Development (R&D) center in Kolkata and has identified space in an STPI building that meets its requirements. “It is going to happen sooner than later,” said the minister, expressing confidence in the imminent setup of the R&D unit.
The government is also finalizing policies related to Global Capability Centers (GCCs) and semiconductors, which will be announced soon. These policies aim to further boost Bengal’s role as a hub for high-tech industries and innovation.
