SAS NAGAR-Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday announced that the Punjab Government will establish three world-class exhibition centres at Ludhiana, New Chandigarh (Mohali) and Amritsar to give a major boost to industry and commerce in the state.
Interacting with industrialists during various sessions at the ongoing Progressive Punjab Investment Summit, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann congratulated participants for actively brainstorming on key economic and industrial issues affecting Punjab. “Punjab does not have big exhibition centres due to which the industry does not have proper places to showcase their products. To address this gap, the Punjab Government is in the process of setting up three world-class exhibition centres at Ludhiana, New Chandigarh and Amritsar on the lines of Pragati Maidan in New Delhi so that industry gets a strong platform to display their goods and boost economic activity, ” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Highlighting the significance of the Progressive Punjab Investment Summit, the Chief Minister said, “This summit has transformed into a well-managed platform where investors are sharing ideas and exploring opportunities in a big way. This will benefit both Punjab and the investors as we collectively work towards strengthening the state’s economy, ” stated CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
He emphasized that the Punjab Government is committed to strengthening the state’s export-driven economy and helping Punjab transition from traditional agricultural output to value-added exports. “Punjab is the land of revolution and Punjabis adopt new ideas quickly. That is why Punjabis have excelled in every sphere across the world. Our aim is to further strengthen the export-driven economy of Punjab as the state has enormous potential to move from traditional agricultural exports to value-added products, ” added CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
The Chief Minister asserted that the Punjab Government is preparing the state for the next 50 years of economic growth with a clear vision of transforming Punjab into a global export hub. “Our goal is to prepare Punjab for the needs of the next fifty years. We want to develop Punjab as a major export hub. I urge investors to compare Punjab with any other state in the country and they will find that Punjab offers one of the best environments for investment. Though our population is only about 2 percent of the country, the sacrifices of Punjabis for the nation exceed 90 percent, ” affirmed CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
He invited investors and delegates to share their ideas directly with the decision-making teams of the Punjab Government and also highlighted the success of the Kisan Ketchup plant at Nabha. “When the Kisan Ketchup plant was first set up in Nabha, tomatoes were imported from Maharashtra. Today, nearly sixty percent of the tomatoes are sourced locally from Punjab after farmers adopted the required varieties. This is a strong example of how agriculture and industry can work together, ” stated CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
He said that the Punjab Government’s vision is to build strong partnerships between farmers and industry. “When farmers, food processors, exporters and logistics providers work together, it increases farmers’ income, generates employment for youth and expands export opportunities for Punjab, ” affirmed CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
He highlighted that Punjab currently exports goods worth over USD 7 billion and has a strong presence in sectors such as agriculture, engineering goods, textiles, auto components and pharmaceuticals. “With more than fourteen lakh MSMEs, Punjab has a strong base of enterprises that contribute to exports, employment and industrial growth, ” stated CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
The Chief Minister said that the Punjab Government aims to transform Punjab into a major export hub of North India by combining manufacturing strength with efficient logistics systems. “We invite industry leaders, exporters and logistics companies to partner with Punjab in expanding our global footprint, ” added CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Highlighting the importance of sustainable development, the Chief Minister also spoke about Punjab’s transition towards clean and reliable energy. “Punjab is steadily moving towards clean and reliable energy as part of our long-term development strategy. Renewable energy will play a key role in meeting growing industrial demand, agricultural needs and emerging sectors such as electric mobility, ” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
He added that Punjab has a natural advantage in bioenergy because of its strong agricultural base. “Punjab produces nearly twenty million tonnes of paddy straw every year. What was once seen as a challenge is now being converted into an opportunity through biomass power, compressed biogas and waste-to-energy projects, ” stated CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
“Bioenergy will help address stubble management, generate additional rural income, support clean fuel transition for industry and build a circular economy where agricultural residue becomes an energy resource, ” added CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
On the occasion, Cabinet Ministers Sanjeev Arora and Gurmeet Singh Khudian along with other dignitaries were also present.