SAS Nagar (Mohali): Rolling a red carpet for the Bussiness tycoons to join family of three crore Punjabis, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann gave a clarion call to them for becoming partners of the socio economic growth in the state.
The Chief Minister, while addressing the Bussiness tycoons here during the inaugural session of the fifth Progressive Punjab Investors Summit, welcomed them to land of saints, seers and martyrs adding that he was elated to have eminent personalities amongst us today. He said that Punjab is most favourable investment destination across the country and no stone will be left unturned to facilitate them. Bhagwant Mann envisioned a strong association between the state government and industrialists to make Punjab an industrial hub in the country.
The Chief Minister said that in order to facilitate the investors for making investments in the state, his government will soon abolish the Change of Land Use (CLU) and NOC that had haunted the industries in earlier times. Welcoming key industrialists m, he said that merely within one year of assuming responsibility as a CM, his first and foremost task has been to get a first-hand knowledge of the problems, of the complexities faced by the people. Bhagwant Mann said that his government’s vision and ambition is to continue to evolve to keep pace with changing expectations and new challenges.
The Chief Minister while striking emotional chord with entrepreneurs said that they are source of opportunities that the youth of Punjab and India wants to avail. He said that no matter if we are working in the public, private or non-profit sectors, each of us has a role to fulfill if we are to achieve our hopes and fulfill our aspirations and responsibilities to our country, our society, our families and to ourselves. Bhagwant Mann Summit is not about MOUs but about knowledge sharing, about brainstorming, about learning from each other.
The Chief Minister asserted that they have chosen a path to make the future of the country bright by accelerating economic growth in stage. Bhagwant Mann said that he has seen that aspiring young generation of Punjab wants to do something big in life. He said that his government is fully convinced that God has bestowed him this opportunity to lead Punjab for bringing qualitative changes in the lives of people.
The Chief Minister said that he can’t discharge this responsibility without active support and collaboration of the people. Bhagwant Mann said that he has a committed team which wants to stimulate healthy economic growth with support of people. He said that his government has introduced several policies and initiatives to support businesses and investors.
The Chief Minister expressed hope that new Industrial and Business Development Policy 2022 unveiled today will accelerate the desired economic growth. Bhagwant Mann said that policy aims to attract huge investment and generate maximum employment in the coming five years. He said that policy provides competitive incentives to all segments of investments including expansions and new MSMEs, Large Units, Export Promotion, Start-Ups of service and manufacturing both.
The Chief Minister envisioned that this policy will provide a roadmap for infrastructure development, such as industrial parks, airports, and ports, which will further facilitate the movement of goods and people and enhance the state’s connectivity to global markets. Bhagwant Mann said that the state Government is developing Integrated Industrial Township adding that it taken a major decision to build 20 Rural Industrial Clusters and 15 industrial parks. Bhagwant Mann further said that in a major step towards sustainability, Punjab’s EV Policy was also unveiled today.
The Chief Minister said that the state is now on a threshold of transition to a new culture of innovation and technology driven enterprise. Bhagwant Mann said that the youth of state are making new innovations and we need to support them. Bhagwant Mann said that Best Class infrastructure, excellent connectivity, premium educational institutes coupled with conducive government policies add to the strength of the State.
The Chief Minister said that rather than waiting for investments in the state, he has adopted a door to door policy to approach the entrepreneurs for investing in state. Bhagwant Mann said that he is elated to share that Punjab has received more than Rs 40,000 Crores worth of investments since March 2022 thereby generating around 2.50 lakh employment opportunities. He said that these investments include those by major companies like Tata Steel, Nestle, Freudenberg, Cargill, Hindustan Unilever, Sanathan Textiles and others have came to state.
Thanking the Bussiness tycoons for being a part of growth story of state, the Chief Minister said that his government is committed to realize the vision in transforming Punjab into a major industrial and export hub in the world. Listing landmark achievements of state, he said that Punjab is amongst the Top achiever states in Ease of Doing Business, Ranking done by the Government of India. Bhagwant Mann said that Invest Punjab, the Unified Regulator for the Government of Punjab is deemed as the Top Performing Investment Promotion Agency by the Government of India.
The Chief Minister said that Punjab received the Digital India Award by the Hon’ble President of India. He further said that in logistics, Punjab is in the top 5 states in the recent LEADS Index, becoming an “Achiever” state. Bhagwant Mann said that Punjab is amongst the top 10 performing states on India Innovation Index 2022.
Giving a snapshot of Punjab’s immense capabilities, the Chief Minister said that Punjab is the country’s largest tractor manufacturer and contributes to 29% of India’s total production. Similarly, he said that state ranks 2nd in tractor exports with a 22% share adding that state contributes 80% in bicycle manufacturing and 92% of total bicycle components manufacturing in India. Bhagwant Mann further said that state has India’s 75% share in sports goods manufacturing and was first in production of machine tools and hand tools in India accounting for ~20% of India’s exports in the sector.
The Chief Minister said that his government wants holistic economic and financial success of Punjab adding that he earnestly believes that the key pillars of our growth are good governance, digitization, decisiveness, transparency, and sensitivity. Bhagwant Mann said that this combined with our rich heritage, tradition, and culture creates a conducive environment for people from across the globe to grow here exponentially. Bhagwant Mann further said that Punjab takes pride in playing a crucial role in India’s contribution towards strengthening global value and supply chain through its manufacturing and infrastructure.
The Chief Minister said that Punjab has global presence and investments are pouring in from Japan, UK, UAE, USA, Germany, South Korea, Singapore, Spain, France, Italy and other countries. He said that the state government is working in every direction to take the state forward by making concerted efforts. Bhagwant Mann expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the esteemed speakers and all the dignitaries present for joining the state government today to promote Punjab as the most preferred destination of investment in India.
Welcoming all the captains of industry to Invest in Punjab, Invest in the Best, the Chief Minister said that the world is going through very testing times. However, he said that we must all feel empowered by the recognition that there is much each of us can do to help, which is is the objective of this summit. Bhagwant Mann said that future is a common responsibility of everyone of us in this journey forward.
The Chief Minister said that Punjab is the only state across the globe which has its franchise all over the world as Punjabis dominate the affairs in every other country. He said that Punjabis are blessed with an indomitable spirit to work hard and excel due to which they had carved a niche for themselves in the world. Bhagwant Mann also announced to give a major boost to sports industry in Jalandhar which produces 75% of sports goods in the country.
In her address, Investment Promotion Minister Anmol Gagan Mann listed the initiatives taken by state government for investment promotion. She said that the state government is making all out efforts to further promote the industry in state. Anmol Gaggan Mann reiterated firm commitment of the state government to emerge Punjab as top investment destination.
Earlier the Chief Secretary of Punjab Vijay Kumar Janjua welcomed all the dignitaries to the occasion. CEO Investment Promotion Punjab KK Yadav proposed vote of thanks on the occasion.
On the occasion various Cabinet Ministers, MLAs and senior officers of Punjab government were also present.