Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today inaugurated the third wholesale distribution center of the Germen based METRO Cash & Carry here at a simple but impressive ceremony this morning.Interacting with the senior Management of the METRO Group, Badal hoped the center would offer several direct and indirect job opportunities to the local youth besides giving an impetus to the trade and commercial activity in the region. On the occasion, the Chief Minister also handed over the employment certificates to the 10 local youth. Earlier, the Chief Minister along with Managing Director METRO Cash & Carry India Rajeev Bakshi lighted a lamp to mark the formal launch of wholesale distribution center at Zirakpur and 12th in the country. Meanwhile, Bakshi apprised the Chief Minister that the company would launch another wholesale distribution center at Amritsar by the end of November this year. He also complimented the Chief Minister for full some support and cooperation extended to the team of METRO Cash & Carry by the Punjab government in setting up of this venture within a record time. Bakshi also assured the Chief Minister that the METRO group would also look into the possibilities to ensure effective marketing mechanism for kinnow in the country besides its export potential in the international market. It may be recalled that wholesale distribution center at Zirakpur was spread over 4 acres with approximately 50,000 sq feet of selling space and has been constructed with an investment of approximately Rs. 120 crore. It has created almost 150 direct and 150 indirect jobs in the local area. The company already runs a farmer collection centre at Malerkotla for direct procurement of fresh fruits and vegetables. With these four wholesale outlets the company has invested over Rs 450 crore in the state. It has also created approx 1200 local jobs opportunities in the state (600 direct and 600 indirect) of Punjab.The company entered the Indian market in 2003. The company currently operates a total of eleven wholesale distribution centres including two wholesale distribution centres each in Bangalore, Mumbai and Hyderabad and one each in Kolkata, Delhi, Jaipur, Jalandhar and Ludhiana. METRO Cash & Carry was represented in 29 countries with around 700 self-service wholesale centers. With more than 100,000 employees worldwide, the company achieved sales of about € 31 billion in 2011. METRO Cash & Carry was a sales pision of the METRO Group.
Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Chief Parliamentary Secretary NK Sharma, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Director Operations India Alec Booth, Head Corporate Vishal Sehgal and Incharge Corporate Relations (North) Naveen Sharma besides the officers of civil and police of district administration Mohali.