27 February, 2021, Kolkata: The CWBTA Excellence Award 2021, organised by apex trade body of east, Confederation of West Bengal Trade Associations (CWBTA), was inaugurated here today at a function attended by traders, trade bodies, industry captains, representatives of the diplomatic corps and government institutions.
“We have organised this Excellence Award 2021 to felicitate the unsung achievers and innovators in the trade and related sectors. The objective of the CWBTA Excellence Award 2021 is to encourage the trading fraternity and also highlight the importance of trade in the economic activity of the country,” said Sushil Poddar, President, CWBTA.
The CWBTA Trade Excellence Award 2021 felicitated achievers in 14 different categories related to trade and commerce. “CWBTA has emerged as the apex trading body of eastern region to bring over 1.5 million traders under its fold and articulate their demands and concerns. With trade and commerce footprint and volume set to grow rapidly in the eastern region, CWBTA is geared up to act as a catalyst to promote regional trade and commerce. Further, we bring together trade bodies of West Bengal and our neighbouring countries to open up new opportunities on both sides of the border,” Mr Narendra Kapadia of CWBTA said.
CWBTA has conceptualised the Trade Excellence Award in order to appreciate and recognise the role of traders in the economic growth of the region. “The Indian economy, estimated to have contracted by 8 per cent in 2020, is coming out of the covid shock with the world’s largest corona vaccination program in progress. The trade and commerce in the country and the eastern region is not only set to gradually pick up and rebound by the end of the current year, but also post robust growth over the next five years riding on the growing infrastructure projects and rapidly evolving multi-modal ecosystem in the country,” said Mr Sandip Agarwal, CWBTA, Executive Committee member.
“As Atmanirbhar India gears up to reach a target of $10 trillion economy by 2030 the Indian economy, there are many positive indicators pointing to a robust trade and commerce ecosystem in the next five years and eastern region would greatly benefit from it. The US$ 105 million project to develop the inland water transport system in Kolkata, West Bengal, signed by the Government of India, Government of West Bengal and the World Bank on January 5, 2021, is one such example,” Mr Rajesh Bhatia, Honorary General Secretary, CWBTA, said.
According to the World Bank, roads account for 65% of freight; the railways 27 per cent and inland waterways only 0.5 per cent. The rapid growth of multi-modal transport – still an evolving solution in India with different modes of transport in their various stages of evolution – will greatly enhance trade and commerce in the years ahead.