Showcasing the industrial and entrepreneurial spirit of Punjab, the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal made a strong case for furthering the economic and business relations between Punjab and UAE to an all time higher level.He expressed these views at an investment outreach seminar here today on the occasion of arriving with the inaugural direct flight from Mohali to Sharjah along with a high level delegation. To further cement the trade and commercial ties an MoU was inked between Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC) Dubai, Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion (PBIP) and Confederation Indian Industry (CII)with specialized focus on trade, investment, education and lifestyle sectors opportunities besides co-operating with each other on sharing knowhow to strengthen commercial ties.The Deputy Chief Minister further said that the purpose his visit is to offer a grand platform for the investors of Dubai to invest in Punjab as the state is unarguably the best and most preferred business and investment destination throughout India. Elaborating on the India-UAE relationship, the Deputy Chief Minister said that Indians constitute a whopping 27 percent of the population of the UAE and many of them comprise Punjabis who can prove to be a vital link in promoting trade relations between the two.
Making a strong case for investment in Punjab, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the Government of Punjab is establishing umpteen number of projects in Punjab. He disclosed that an I.T. city is being planned in Mohali which would see prominent companies from the sector setting up base there. Giving more details, he said that besides the I.T. city, the state government is also focused on developing an Edu city comprising top notch facilities from school to higher level and medi city constituting hospitals, medical colleges and research institutes thus making Mohali an economic hub of the state and setting a benchmark in development.Presenting his case with facts, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the state government has established a department called ‘Invest Punjab’ which acts as a nodal agency regarding all investment related work. The department provides all the necessary permissions and clearances for establishing new business ventures and for this purpose has brought 23 departments under one roof. Disclosing more, he said that Punjab has lowest industrial power tariff at Rs. 4.99 per unit, best connectivity having 2 international and 3 domestic airports besides having excellent road connectivity matching international standards.
Carrying the developmental plank further, he said that the Punjab Government has evolved a system of government site allotment in less than 20 days with pre-cleared letter regarding pollution, power, forest, land use, water and sewerage. He also said that the peaceful labour relations with absence of hartals and lockouts, freedom from inspection and instead promoting self certification, besides numero uno status in India in terms of sports goods manufacturing & exports, sewing machine manufacturing, honey processing, hand tool manufacturing, hosiery woolens manufacturing, largest exporter of cotton and blended yarn, largest producer of mushroom, contributing 40 percent of central food grain procurement pool despite being only 1.5 percent of India’s size, ranking among top 2 states in basmati rice production and export lends a strong credibility to its status as the most preferred destination in various sectors of trade and commerce thereby bagging a place of pride for it on world business map.
CEO Invest Punjab Sh Anirudha Tewari gave a detailed presentation to the delegates on the business opportunities available in Punjab . He said that a high tech cycle valley near Ludhiana besides a 200 acre industrial manufacturing cluster at Rajpura in Patiala are coming up . Divulging about the initiatives of the state government in food processing sector, he said that a food processing cluster is coming up in Kapurthala with assistance from ITC and apart from this, a mega food processing park is being established in Ludhiana by Punjab Agro Industries Corporation. Calling I.T. sector of paramount importance in today’s techno savvy era he informed the delegates that PB was v strong in this sector . Among others present on the occasion were a number of ministers and leaders from the Punjab govt , Principal Secretary to DCM Sh PS Aujla , Special Principal Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister-Rahul Tewari, Industrial Advisor Government of Punjab and Vice Chairman & Managing Director Nahar Industrial Enterprises Ltd. Kamal Oswal, Vice Chairman CII Punjab State Council and Managing Director Ajooni Biotech Limited Gurmeet Singh Bhatia, President Indian Business &Professional Council Dubai, Charge de Affairs Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi Neeta Bhushan, Formet Chairperson CII Punjab State Council and Director GDPA Fastners Limited, Member CII Northern region and Joint Managing Director Vardhaman Textiles Limited Sachit Jain , Consul General of India, Dubai Anurag Bhushan and members of the business community in Dubai .