Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday reviewed the functioning of Industries & Commerce department and assured of fulsome support to boost industrialization to emerge Punjab on the top of industrial map in the country.He also lauded the stupendous efforts of 'Invest Punjab' for bringing whopping investment proposals worth Rs.84,500 crore since March 2017, which is reflective of entrepreneur's enormous confidence in the investor friendly policies of state government.Chairing a review meeting of the Industries & Commerce department, the Chief Minister said that the paucity of funds would not be allowed to hamper the functioning of the department. He also emphasized the need to further liberalize the existing industrial & business policies so as to attract more investment in the state.Acceding to the request of Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan, the Chief Minister gave approval to hold a virtual investment meet amid Covid pandemic, preferably in coming October or November as an endeavour to boost confidence amongst the prospective investors/entrepreneurs to invest in Punjab.The Chief Minister also gave go ahead to the proposal mooted by Chief Secretary for getting the labour working in industrial units vaccinated on priority.Captain Amarinder also asked the Industries department to examine the proposal to get the requisite funds under TIES scheme of Government of India for promotion of export of auto part industries in Ludhiana, which would further give impetus to the auto parts manufacturing in the state.
Expressing gratitude to the industrialists for extending a helping hand to the state government in the Covid crisis, the Chief Minister said the enormous contribution by the companies in these tough times have been instrumental in protecting the life, health and well being of the people in Punjab amid this pandemic, through donations in various ways such as food packets, dry ration kits, personal protective equipments, face masks, oxygen concentrators, oxygen plants and many more Covid care facilities.Taking part in the deliberations, the Industries & Commerce Minister Sunder Sham Arora lauded the efforts of the Chief Minister for ensuring record investment to the tune of Rs.84,500 crore on the ground compared to the fact that huge number of MoUs were merely signed during the previous SAD-BJP government but not much came on ground. He also mentioned that the present government has so far extended incentives worth more than Rs.7000 crore to the state industry.Earlier, the Chief Secretary briefed Captain Amarinder Singh that during a time of great uncertainty in wake of unprecedented Covid pandemic, the people of Punjab have been comforted, encouraged, and humbled by the outpouring of generosity and support from fellow citizens in Punjab – both individuals and companies who have shown extraordinary compassion and offered a helping hand to others in every way to support those fighting Covid-19.She also highly appreciated the industries/organizations across all sectors, which have stepped up and worked together to ease people’s suffering during these trying circumstances. The shortage of medical oxygen in hospitals across the state has become one of the most critical factors in the management of Covid-19 pandemic. Since, Punjab does not have any large Oxygen Manufacturing Plants, the State Government is mainly dependent on the allocation and movement of Oxygen from outside the State. Since, the State does not have enough cryogenic containers/tankers for this transportation, the collaboration of the Corporates with the Government became paramount, added Vini.
Making a brief presentation, Principal Secretary Industries & Commerce Alok Shekhar apprised the Chief Minister that The Department had successfully implemented the Industrial and Business development Policy 2017 brought by this government and time to time made amendment as per the requirement of the Industry and which had resulted in achieving such large Investments during last 4 years of its implementation. The department was successful in bring in new schemes as well as in utilizing the GoI schemes very effectively and which resulted in overall Industrial growth of the state along with improvement in industrial infrastructure. The department further intends to carry out the reforms as per the mandate of the government so that ease of doing business is achieved in the state.Acting on the request of the Punjab government, Alok Shekhar said industry had contributed both in cash and kind as their CSR contributions diring second wave of Covid Pandemic. Punjab Industry has contributed 1,43,917 medical equipments/articles in kind which includes 4 cryogenic tankers, 12 PSA plants, 8205 pulse oxymeters, 1140 cylinders, 1000 thermal scanners and more than 1 lac face masks/N95 masks till date. This is in addition to the contributions received in cash of Rs. 2,66,54,800 to the Punjab Disaster Management Authority, he said naming M/s HMEL- 1.5 cr., M/s Sportking- Rs. 50 lac, M/s AVON cycles- Rs. 20 lac and M/s Ralson India- Rs. 10 lac as major contributors.M/s HMEL Bathinda, being a largest contributor by providing 4 oxygen tankers, setting up of COVID hospital at Bathinda, oxygen plant at Bathinda, oxygen concentrators and other COVID related equipments with an overall amount of Rs. 13 cr. He thanked all the companies for helping to meet the challenges of this moment through their best efforts and contributions, supporting the Government to continue to provide the highest order of care.