The development and promotion of Haldia as an industrial township has always been a key concern of the State Government . The most important factor for the evolution of Hadia industrial region is the development of port facility at Haldia. Initially it was under the administration of Haldia Dock Complex (HDC). The excellent locational advantage of Haldia and comprehensive port facilities provided by the Haldia port paved the way for the establishment of various Public Sector companies like Indian Oil Corporation and Hindustan Fertilizer. It also attracted private sector giants like Hindustan Lever, Exide Industries, Shaw Wallace to set up their shops alongwith various small-scale units engaged in engineering and fabrication, automobiles, electricals, food processing, packaging and building materials. With the commissioning of two dream projects - the Rs 5170-crore Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd and the Rs 1400-crore Purified Terepthalic Acid (PTA) Plant of Mitsubishi Chemical Company, Japan, the growth potential of the industrial region was considerably enhanced.

Haldia Development Authority was constituted under the West Bengal Town & Country Act in 1979 to ensure planned and integrated development of the Haldia Industrial Region. HDA has been granted a considerable degree of functional autonomy to achieve a single point objective - that of promoting and developing Haldia as one of the most efficiently managed and easily accessible industrial hub of Bengal.