Retail Sector Poised to Fuel Livelihoods and Eastern India’s Growth in AI Era

PARTHA ROY, KOLKATA: Industry leaders converged at Taj Bengal on 25th February 2026 for the CII Retail East 2026 summit under the theme “Retell, Repost, Revamp the Success Story”, underscoring the retail sector’s pivotal role in driving India’s economic transformation.

In the AI era, the sector is set to generate massive employment opportunities and accelerate Eastern India’s growth trajectory, expanding rapidly across Tier-1, Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Multi-brand and single-brand retail, along with brand communication strategies, are undergoing profound changes as Gen-Z consumers proudly embrace local Indian brands.

Product quality, packaging, logistics and associated support services in Eastern India’s retail industry are now reaching best-in-class standards.

The growth of the retail sector is expected to give a significant boost to the economies of all Eastern and North-Eastern states of India.

“Eastern region is central to the retail ecosystem with a huge consumer base and strong entrepreneurial culture,” said Anuj Singh, Chairman, CII ER Retail Subcommittee & MD & CEO, Spencer’s Retail.

Speakers at the summit emphasised that Indian retail has the potential to deliver the world’s finest customer experience, strengthen backend industries, and position India as a global hub for tourism and shopping. The sector is projected to grow at 10 per cent annually — faster than the country’s GDP.