The Invest Punjab summit today ended with a total investment commitment of Rs 1.15 crore even as Mohali is set to emerge as an electronic hub with Videocon announcing it would invest Rs 500 crore to establish a mobile and set up box manufacturing facility here.The valedictory function, which was presided over by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, also saw him announcing a startup fund of Rs 100 crore for young entrepreneurs. He also announced that jewellery maker Geetanjali would establish a jewelry park at Amritsar at a cost of Rs. 1200 crore.The Deputy chief minister also gave a call for all "born in Punjab" industrialists to invest back in their State in case they have settled out of Punjab or abroad. He said he would approach all such industrial heads in the near future and urge them to put up their units in the State of their birth.Mr Badal also announced that the second investment summit had proved that Punjab was moving towards establishment of various clusters. He said Mohali was already emerging as a cluster for electronics and IT. He said similarly the State was also poised towards development of agro processing and defence and aero clusters.
During interaction with media, Mr Badal said the summit had also proved that industrial giants had shown full confidence in Punjab during this mega event and this summit would be a game changer in the overall development of the state. He also announced that a special policy providing for level playing field for MSME enterprises was also being framed and would be finalised within one month.During his valedictory speech the Deputy CM pointed out Apollo Hospitals would establish a world class facility in Amritsar and that work on the project would start by April next year. He said the government would also tie up with Apollo to conduct health mapping of its citizens.Mr Badal said major players were moving to Punjab besides committing to involve themselves in the skill development drive initiated by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. He said HDFC was shifting its back office to Mohali. He said HDFC had also committed to open skill development centers across the State. He said special emphasis was being laid on training girl students and that the government was starting 50 colleges in rural areas to train girls in various vocations. He said the colleges would be run by all the three Universities in the State and would train at least 500 girls in each college. He said similarly efforts were on to train 45,000 drivers with Uber Company saying there was a need for this kind of work force in State.
Asking the central government to emulate the example set up by Punjab in establishing “Invest Punjab” department, Mr Badal said the state government initiative of governance reforms and e-Sewa Kendars was an example worth emulating where more than 200 citizen services will be provided at the doorstep. “My aim is to make Punjab online from inline by April 13", he said adding citizens could also avail these services from their homes by October next year. Badal emphasized that Punjab has done a lot in creating infrastructure, basic amenities, governance reforms, education, health, air connectivity, mechanized agriculture and congenial atmosphere for industries that no other state could match its overall progress.On this occasion, the Industries and Commerce Minister, Punjab, Madan Mohan Mittal said that what the Punjab Government speaks, it promises to translate into action. He also extended the invitation to the industrialists to become partners in the novel technique of agro-diversification.
Among others present on the occasion included Chief Secretary Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal, Additional Chief Secretary Mr. Karan Avtar Singh, Chairman TeamLease Mr. Manish Sabharwal, Chairman & MD Videocon Venugopal Dhoot, Executive Vice Chairman Appolo Group Shobana Kamineni, Chairman Trident Group Rajinder Gupta, Chairman RJ Corp Ravi Jaipuria, MD Amul R.S. Sodhi, CEO Bunge Asia Micheal Goettl, MD, CEO and Vice Chairman Nahar International Kamal Oswal, President Moison Coors Cobra India Ravi Kaza, COO Swaraj Division, Mahindra and Mahindra Viren Popli and Dean Indian School of Business (ISB) Ajit Rangnekar.