The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated a new office building of Bharat Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata, West Bengal today (August 23, 2016). Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the Bharat Chamber of Commerce is one of India’s oldest chambers with a history going back to the year 1900 when it was formed as an Association of Merchants belonging to a particular community. The President stated that the land of Eastern India comprising Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, Odisha and the other states of North East have since centuries been the land of India’s renaissance and reformation. Apart from being the breeding ground of various cultures and religions, it is this land that witnessed excellence in indigenous handlooms, setting up of nascent industries around jute and tea, iron ore, coal and petroleum. The President said that the Bharat Chamber of Commerce comprising Captains of Industries from this region have a special challenge and responsibility on their shoulders. He stated that while he exhorted them to avail of opportunities and drive the engines of growth, he would also like to impress upon them that the growth models and techniques that they use should essentially take into account ways and means that ensure equitable growth.