Research Projects
The Bengal Chamber in Research
1. Project Title: Survey for
Institutional Strengthening of Gram Panchayat
Projects (ISGPP)
Location: West Bengal, India
Project Timeline: June, 2017 - October, 2017
About the Project: The aim of the project was to
conduct social audit of the schemes under ISGPP. The
project was executed in 3,230 Panchayats across 19
districts of West Bengal. The project facilitated
institutional strengthening of the Gram Panchayats.
The project was supported by The World Bank.
2. Project Title: Study on Enhancing
Land-Rail-Air-Water Connectivity of West Bengal with
Bangladesh onwards to North Eastern India
Location: India and Bangladesh
Project Timeline: October, 2017 - March, 2018
About the Project: Improving last mile connectivity
between India and Bangladesh can foster economic
benefits and facilitate augmentation of business
between the countries. In this context, The Bengal
Chamber of Commerce & Industry had undertaken a
research project to comprehensively study the 14
operational and non-operational border points that
West Bengal shares with Bangladesh; identify ways by
which the non-operational borders could be
re-established, ascertain methods to propose easier
and shorter routes, and recommend modes to improve
the available infrastructure. The project also had
an objective to assess the benefits of connecting
West Bengal to India's North East through Bangladesh
and the economic dividends that it would provide.
The project has been referred to by the Chief
Minister of West Bengal at multiple forums during
her meetings with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
3. Project Title: Study to Develop a Model Roll
On-Roll Off (RORO) Infrastructure in West Bengal to
Boost Business
Location: West Bengal, India
Project Timeline: April, 2018 - August, 2018
About the Project: The project had an overarching
objective to connect production areas of the State
with the consumption zones through river ways,
especially through the Hooghly River, utilising Roll
On-Roll Off (RORO) vessels, thereby decongesting
roads and bridges, leading to a substantial
reduction of air pollution and a seamless and faster
movement of goods. The study helped to identify
viable locations where the service could be adopted
and mapping the same with the production-consumption
centres of the State. The study was majorly carried
out in the districts of Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata,
Nadia, North 24 Parganas, Paschim Midnapore, Purba
Midnapore and South 24 Parganas, along the banks of
Bhagirathi Hooghly River, where potential RORO
points can be developed.
4. Project Title: Ease of Procuring Land in
Industrial Parks and Industrial Estates in West
Bengal
Location: West Bengal, India
Project Timeline: February, 2019 - May, 2019
About the Project: The key objective of the project
was to prepare strategies facilitating hassle free
procurement of land in industrial parks and estates.
The activities undertaken by The Bengal Chamber of
Commerce and Industry under the scope of the project
included:
a. Preparation of a policy level Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP) for allotment of land to industrial
parks in the State clearly defining the legal norms.
b. Evaluation of the existing pricing method and
further defining & formulating an uniform pricing
mechanism of the authoritative bodies for allotment
of industrial parks to investors (allotees) looking
to procure parks and estates in the State for
setting up businesses.
c. Suggestion on best practices and comparing
parameters with other states which the State could
adopt to further ease business and attract
investments.
5. Project Title: Strategy assessment study for
Handloom and Handicraft development corporations
(Government undertaking)
Location: West Bengal, India
Project Timeline: May, 2019 - December, 2019
About the Project: The project intended to assess
the operating procedures and the governance
structures of a few of the handloom and handicraft
development corporations of West Bengal. The Bengal
Chamber of Commerce and Industry recommended a
business strategy emphasizing on the following:
a. Ideal Corporate Structure
b. Organisational Structure and governance
c. Standard Operating Procedures
d. Process improvement in procurement, warehousing,
marketing and sales functions
e. Technology and systems infrastructure
up-gradation
6. Project Title: Export Strategy for West Bengal
Location: West Bengal, India
Project Timeline: September, 2019 - January, 2020
About the Project: West Bengal is the gateway to
Eastern South Asia and South East Asia region. The
Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry had
commenced a research project to design the export
strategy of West Bengal which focussed on designing
a policy to export commodities to the ASEAN
countries from West Bengal. The project contour
included:
a. Examining ways by which MSMEs of the State could
get integrated into Global Value Chains.
b. Filing more geographical indications on the
produce of the State to increase market expansion
c. Assessing and recommending logistical
improvements which can accelerate international
trade initiated from the State.
d. Establishing opportunities with Investment
Promotion Agencies.
7. Project Title: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
for a State Development Corporation
Location: West Bengal, India
Project Timeline: August, 2019 - February, 2020
About the Project: The project focused on assessing
the key activities undertaken by various Departments
of a State Government and designing a Standard
Operating Procedure for the Departments. The project
explored ways to standardize processes and defined
methods for human resource distribution and
engagement. During the process the following were
undertaken:
a. Simplification of processes and reducing
duplication of work
b. Transparency and Uniformity of Understanding
across all Stakeholders
c. Smooth Intra Department Coordination
d. Improving Efficiency and speeding up the Process
e. Reduction of Possibility of Error
f. Objective Decision Making with Better Management
Control
g. Foundation for IT enabled Process Organization
8. Project Title: Study on Vessel Financing for The
World Bank
Location: West Bengal, India
Project Timeline: October, 2019 - February, 2020
About the Project: The primary aim of this project
was to undertake demand assessment for Roll On-Roll
Off (RORO) services, identification of sites for
RORO services and to develop a financing model to
boost RORO business in the State. The project was
supported by The World Bank. The broad objectives of
the study were:
a. To assess the market size and demand of this
sector with suitable methods depicting traffic
growth and volume prediction
b. To highlight existing regulatory measures of the
marine sector in the State of West Bengal,
particularly with respect to vessel operation
through inland waterways
c. To suggest possible financing options for RORO
vessels by creating financing frameworks which could
attract investors and other financial institutions
to fund such vessels
d. Lastly, to examine the economic and social
benefits derived from the shift in transportation
mode
9. Project Title: Logistics Development Policy Loan
(DPL) Project - Phase I for The World Bank
Location: West Bengal, India
Project Timeline: November, 2019 - March, 2020
About the Project: This project was supported by The
World Bank. The project aimed at designing a policy
matrix for the Development Policy Loan (DPL),
primarily covering four pillars of reforms:
a. Governance structure
b. Land reforms and land allotment strategy
c. Enhancement of border infrastructure to enhance
cross border trade and
d. Capacity building and skill development strategy
The project also created a Project Appraisal
Document (PAD) covering the macroeconomic policy
framework, the allied risks and plausible measures
of mitigation.
10. Project Title: Logistics Development Policy
Loan(DPL) Project - Phase II (Macroeconomic
Framework) for The World Bank
Location: India
Project Timeline: January, 2020 - March, 2020
About the Project: This was the phase II of the DPL
project. Under the project purview, the logistics
framework of West Bengal was studied. The project
helped to assess the logistics sector of the State
in the context of the macroeconomic and fiscal
situation.
11. Project Title: A comparative study of India and
Mexico on dual apprenticeships creating better and
more equitable social and economic outcomes for
young people for a renowned management college
Location: India, United Kingdom and Mexico
Project Timeline: January, 2019 - Till date (Ongoing
Project)
About the Project: The study aims at developing a
comprehensive research approach that scrutinizes the
different, but mutually constitutive stages of
policy transfer, from adoption and
re-contextualization of dual apprenticeships in
National programmes to their implementation and
impact on social inequalities in multiple local
contexts. The research team of The Chamber is
evaluating the implementation and impact of dual
apprenticeships on inequalities of access.
Activities undertaken under the project includes
undertaking a national survey of apprentices in
India with in-depth interviews of apprentices,
teachers, trainers and employers.
12. Project Title: Strategic vision for emission
control in Kolkata
Location: West Bengal, India
Project Timeline: February, 2019
About the Project: The Chamber collaborated with an
internationally renowned University, to assess the
opportunities and challenges created by urban
living. The objective was to identify barriers and
solutions to sustainable economic growth; resilience
of critical urban systems and infrastructure;
environmental sustainability; and health, wellbeing
and quality of life for the citizens of Kolkata and
West Bengal. A workshop on 'strategic vision for
emission control in Kolkata' was conducted in
February 2019 in Kolkata. The focus of the workshops
was to improve air quality in Kolkata through
actions in the following areas:
a. Cleaner transport solutions
b. Renewable and cleaner energy solutions
c. Improved techniques and policies for construction
and
d. Enhanced energy efficiency
13. Project Title: Air Quality in Kolkata: A brief
Overview
Location: West Bengal, India
Project Timeline: April, 2019 - November, 2019
About the Project: As a follow up to the 'Strategic
vision for emission control in Kolkata' project, a
study named 'Air Quality in Kolkata: A brief
Overview' was undertaken by The Bengal Chamber of
Commerce & Industry. This was the Phase II of the
activity under the collaboration with the
internationally acclaimed university. The project
helped to identify the major sources of air
pollution in Kolkata and amalgamated their impact on
the Air Quality Index (AQI). This highlighted the
major Governmental policies (at the Central, State
and local levels) that are in effect to curb the
untapped discharge of air pollutants.
14. Project Title: Assessment of Afghanistan Trade Opportunities within Indian Markets
Location: Afghanistan & India
Project Timeline: September, 2021 - On-going
About the Project: The project aims to determine the prospects of Afghan exports to India to increase income
and jobs in Afghanistan along with understanding the demand for Afghan products in Indian markets, with the best product mix
solutions resulting in optimal trading relationships and benefits. The assessment of trade development using a gender lens -
particularly women and youth-alongside econometric modelling estimates of jobs and wages along the product value chains
due to a rise in exports was also required. The project consists of 4 activities: Value Chain Mapping of Afghan products,
Indian Market Assessment, Product Category Recommendations, and Trade and Business Enabling Environment.
15. Name of the Project: MSME Compliance reduction in West Bengal
Location: West Bengal
Project Timeline: December 2020-February 2021
About the Project: West Bengal based MSMEs have to adhere to several compliances and regulatory requirements and processes
associated with it and a lot of filings in a given year. The project was aimed at assessing the rules, regulations, and
compliances of various business sectors of the state to reduce the redundancy of legal procedures and latency of each
compliance process. The purpose of this assignment was to improve the ease of doing business in West Bengal by analyzing
the various constraints caused due to compliances and regulatory mandates.
16. Name of the Project: Digital Marketing Strategy Roadmap study for Five Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporations (Government Undertakings)
Project Timeline: January 2021- April 2021
About the Project: The project focused on an integrated digital marketing strategy to enhance these organizations' visibility, promotion and
selling of their products through digital medium. This study specifically delves into the digital presence of the textile-based parastatals of
Govt. of West Bengal assessing the present situation along with the future prospects based on various digital parameters. The study included the following aspects:
a. As-Is situation analysis and market assessment
b. Collaboration strategy with existing e-commerce platforms
c. Cost comparison & Return on Investment (ROI) analysis
d. Comprehensive future strategy roadmap with short, medium and long-term recommendations