A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Government of Punjab and the Chandler Institute of Governance (CIG), Singapore, in the presence of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday at Punjab Vidhan Sabha to work out modalities for exploring leadership training activities and capabilities for officers at MGSIPA.The collaboration would also focus on showcasing Punjab as a future global investment destination, said an official spokesperson, adding that this is CIG’s first MoU in India.The MoU was signed by Punjab’s Director, Governance Reforms, Parminder Pal Singh and Executive Director, CIG, Wu Wei Neng. Later both the signatories exchanged the files in the presence of dignitaries from both sides.The CIG is an independent, non-partisan, not for profit organization based in Singapore and supports governments across the world with capability development, programme and training, resources, advisory and research.Lauding the initiative of the Governance Reforms Department, Captain Amarinder said that this partnership would further bolster his Government's efforts to woo investments in the state, besides enhancing leadership and training capabilities amongst officers undergoing training at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration.
He hoped that the State Government and CIG would make all out efforts to bring pathbreaking reforms in State Administration with this collaboration.Meanwhile, Additional Chief Secretary, Governance Reforms, Vini Mahajan said the collaboration shall support organisational strengthening and programme design in Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion and the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute for Public Administration. She said that CIG’s network of professionals and practitioners is expected to bring in the required expertise.Vini said that CIGs vast experience and expertise on such collaborations and assignments in the past shall benefit the State Government and help it learn from other practices and policies.MGSIPA would be immensely benefitted with this collaboration as it would help in designing their training modules for IAS, PCS and State Officers to enhance the state government's capacity.The collaboration would also help the Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion in giving new ideas and approaches that their team could use to attract more investments to the State.Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Industries and Commerce Minister Sunder Sham Arora, Education and Public Works Minister Vijay Inder Singla, Principal Secretary to CM Tejveer Singh and Secretary Governance Reforms Ravi Bhagat. The CIG team was represented by Christopher Wong, Goh Han Teck and Shanice Koh.