Business and industry in the country today gave a forceful endorsement to the new investment policyorientation of Punjab as the two day Progressive Punjab Investment Summit began at the ISB campus here today.With some of the top names with global profiles, like Mr. Mukesh Ambani, LN Mittal, Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Sunil Munjal, Mr. YC Deveshwar, Onkar Singh Kanwar, Malwinder Mohan Singh among others,flanking Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on the stage, this was quite easily the biggest day for investment promotion for Punjab and for show-casing the state as the most preferred investment destination in the country.As Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal finished his elaborate and fact based presentation on what he called “a new reality about Punjab,” the industry responded by giving him and the Punjab government a full-throated testimonial, with LN Mittal going the extent of declaring that Punjab was the quickest in responding to business requests. The Deputy Chief Minister positioned himself as the CEO of the state when it came to business and industrial investment, and speaker after speaker got up to give him the thumbs up.
It was clearly from the whole hearted response of the tycoons of business and industry that the Deputy CM had done his home work well and had succeeded and projecting his government as the most business friendly government in the country. Not just the commitments of Rs 55000 crores of investments but even the words in the speeches thataccompanied these decisions proved that Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal had been received an overwhelming mandate in his favour from the captains of business, trade and industry. His “Think Big, Achieve Big”, and “Money follows ideas” slogans evoked instant response.The comfort level of the business and industry tycoons with the organisers carried a message of its own as it revealed that they had chosen to place their trust in the present dispensation in Punjab.Sensing the mood of the summit, the Chief Mr. Parkash Singh Badal deviated from his prepared speech and delivered what could only be a called a “statesman’s futuristic message for carrying the fruits of development, growth and prosperity to the poorest of the poor.” Havingsee that the leaders of business and industry no longer needed any persuading to invest in Punjab, the Chief Minister dwelled elaborately on the goals of development, mixing it with traditional Punjabi warmth and humour, even having delicious and light-hearted jibes at his “good son for leaving nothing for me to speak.”
While the Deputy CM focused on “walking the talk” and elaborated the path-breaking steps already taken by his government to cut red tape through a regime of governance reforms, the Chief Minister envisioned Punjab as the most preferred investment destination in the country.The Chief Minister envisioned Punjab as the most preferred investment destination with firming up of total investment to the tune of Rs 55000 crore on the first day of Progressive Punjab Investors summit, where eminentindustrialists and entrepreneurs from the country and across the globe evinced keen interest to set up their ventures in varied fields.Addressing the galaxy of captains of industry and noted entrepreneurs on the inauguration of two days summit here at Indian School of Business (ISB), the Chief Minister said that the vision and dynamism of Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal to put Punjab as the frontrunner state on the Industrial map of the country, has finally bore fruits with his unique effort to organize this mega event for the first time ever organized during his political career spanning over more six decades. He said that the recent path breaking initiatives by giving lucrative incentives in terms of VAT retention, exemption of stamp duty besides establishing Punjab Industrial Promotion Bureau headed by him with Deputy Chief Minister as its co-chairman and Mr. Anirudh Tiwari appointed as its Chief Executive Officer to give clearances in fast mode to the entrepreneurs would be instrumental in reposing their confidence and trust in the investor friendly policies of the state government. Mr. Badal pointed that earlier single window service was merely a sham devoid of any meaningful purpose, which not only demoralized the potential investors but also hampered the industrial development of the state. The Chief Minister said that the complete communal harmony, peace and amity was mainly responsible for overall development and prosperity in the state and urged the industrialists to make optimum use of this congenial atmosphere backed by excellent infra structure, surplus power, skilled human resources and best industrial and work culture, for which the Reserve Bank of India has even rated Punjab amongst the three best investment destinations across the country.
The Chief Minister said that Punjab’s economy was predominantly an agrarian economy which has already reached a plateau and now we were left with only option to go for industrialization in a big way and today’s summit was a step towards this direction. He announced to convene a much bigger summit on agriculture in February next year thereby inviting the key players in agro processing and stakeholders related to agriculture not only from the country but abroad also to further consolidate the agrarian base of our economy with a focus on marketing besides food processing as a value addition to the agriculture produce to benefit the farmers enormously. Mr. Badal impressed upon the leading players of the industry to attend that Agriculture summit also with same enthusiasm so that pro-farmer policies could be chalked out to help our beleaguered peasantry especially the small and marginal farmers. Buoyed over the whopping investments coming forth in today’s summit, the Chief Minister in a lighter vein asked the Deputy Chief Minister to closely follow up the MoUs signed between the state government and the various industrial houses so that these investments should not merely remain on paper but should actually come on the ground. He urged the Industrialists to be humane in their approach and contribute a significant portion of their wealth for the philanthropic causes under the Corporate Social Responsibility. Mr. Badal appreciated Reliance and Bharti groups for doing exceptionally well for the welfare of poor and disadvantaged sections of society. He said the spirit of charity and doing good to poor was an inherent character of the Punjabis as they have derived this inspiration from the great Sikh Gurus, who called upon them to contribute atleast 10% of their wealth (Dasvandh) adding that in the spirit he asked the industrialists to donate generously for the well being of needy because magnanimity for such humanitarian acts never goes unrewarded rather their wealth would be multiplied manifold.
The Chief Minister said that he had prioritized the Health and Education sector by launching unique schemes so that these core sectors should not be ignored at any cost. He said that the state government has started Dr Hargobind Khurana Post Matric scholarship scheme to give scholarship to the poor but bright students securing more than 80% marks in Matric class. Likewise Mr. Badal said that six special schools were being set up by the state government to provide free education to meritorious students of the rural areas adding that these schools would provide free boarding and lodging facilities to the students at par with the private schools.
The Chief Minister urged the Industrialists to open Skill centers to train the unemployed youth to enable them to be gainfully employed besides catering to the needs of local industry. He also asked the major captains of the Industry to focus their attention on the welfare and prosperity of the economically weaker sections as a part of ‘inclusive development’ otherwise any deviation from this path could lead to a dangerous trend of Naxalism, which was spreading its wings swiftly across several parts of the country.Slamming the Union government for ignoring the common man, the Chief Minister said that the Congress has to pay heavy price for its anti-people policies as it has been routed from the four states during the recently concluded assembly polls whereas a novice Aam Aadmi Party has registered impressive gains only due to its concern shown for the poor and common people. He said that Punjab which contributes 60% of the food grains in national kitty despite of its 1.5% of country’s total area besides enormous contribution of Punjabis in national freedom struggle and safeguarding the borders from our hostile neighbor has never been acknowledged by the Centre. Earlier in his power point presentation Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, while declaring Punjab as a power surplus state, said that the power would be available here at cheaper rates as compared to other states. Citing the CRISIL rating of High prosperity and Equality, he said that the state was having the best infra structure which was a basic catalyst of industrial growth. The Deputy Chief Minister said that due to the concerted efforts of the state government Ludhiana city has been declared best investment destination by the world bank adding that the RBI has also adjudged the state as one of the top three investment destinations of the country.The Deputy Chief Minister said that Punjab would be only state with best air connectivity having three international airports at Mohali, Amritsar and upcoming at Macchiwara besides three domestic terminals at Bathinda, Ludhiana and Pathankot. He further said that Punjab was having the finest road network having four/ six lanes roads throughout the state which connected all the cities and towns of the state.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the state government has embarked a major scheme for the comprehensive planning and development of urban and rural areas across the state thereby equipping them with 100% water supply and sewerage facility.Underscoring the need of growth with equity, the Deputy Chief Minister said that he was a firm believer that ideas were far more important than the resources and to think big for achieving big was his motto for success. He said not only the key players in industry from India but abroad like CTCI Taiwan, USA’s leading Mall Company Gumberg have already landed in the state. The Deputy Chief Minister reiterated that conducive atmosphere coupled with peace and harmony and enterprising skill of Punjabis was a major factor to boost investment sentiment in Punjab adding he said strikes and labour unrest were words unheard of in the state.The Deputy Chief Minister said that the establishment of PBIP would facilitate the investors in securing clearances in a hassle free manner under one roof and CEO has been made accountable to give sanctions with regards to ten departments. He said that the lucrative concessions given to industry had further rejuvenated confidence amongst the industrialists besides scaling down the corruption at the cutting edge considerably through bringing out of box governance reforms which were guaranteed to eliminate the interface between the public and government officials. Earlier the Chief Secretary Mr. Rakesh Singh welcomed the esteemed gathering whereas Cabinet Minister Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal proposed the vote of thanks. Principal Secretary Industries Mr. Karan Avtar Singh conducted the proceedings of the state.Prominent amongst those present on the occasion Cabinet Ministers Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka, Mr. Sharanjeet Singh Dhillon, Advisor to Chief Minister on Media and National Affairs Mr. Harcharan Bains, Media Advisor to Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Jangveer Singh, Assistant Media Advisor to Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Harjinder Sidhu, State BJP President Mr. Kamal Sharma, Financial Commissioner Revenue Mr. NS Kang, Financial Commissioner Development Mr. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, Special Principal Secretaries to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar and Mr. KJS Cheema.