Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today reiterated his firm commitment to usher in an industrial development in a big way, as state’s main stay- agriculture has already reached a plateau and massive industrialization was the only solution for the rejuvenation of stagnated economy. Addressing a galaxy of eminent industrialists and business tycoons from the region during the second edition of “India Today Bussiness Wizards North- 2014”, the Chief Minister said that the state government had taken path breaking initiatives to emerge Punjab as the most preferred investment destination not only in the country but across the globe and asked the prospective entrepreneurs to invest here in a big way. He said that the state government organized a Mega Investor’s Summit in December last year which was enthusiastically attended by leading industrialists including Mr. Mukesh Ambani from Reliance, Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal (Airtel), Mr. Sunil Kant Munjal (Hero), Mr. Ness Wadia (Bombay Dyeing) besides key industrial players from Infosys, ITC and others. As many as 117 companies signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth Rs 65000 crore during this mega summit.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has already allotted 50 acres of land to Infosys at Mohali for setting up of country’s largest IT park and 67 acres of land to ITC for Mega Food Park in Kapurthala district. He said that Punjab has a distinction of being the first state to move from Single Window System to One Stop Clearance Regime in which a single officer was empowered to give clearances for all concerned departments. Likewise, Mr. Badal said that under its novel Industrial Investment policy, the new investors had been allowed to retain VAT for next 10 years.The Chief Minister mentioned that Punjab was the only state which could rightly boast of its congenial industrial climate coupled with skilled manpower fully capable of catering to the needs of local industry. As you were aware, said Mr. Badal that Power was the engine of growth and thus the state government had made all out efforts to make Punjab as self sufficient in Power adding he said the Talwandi Sabio and Rajpura Thermal plants have been made operational and another one of 540 MW at Goindwal Sahib would also go on stream soon with the clearance of coal linkage by the Centre.
Highly appreciating the leadership qualities and entrepreneurial skills of the Punjabis, the Chief Minister said that they could do wonders anywhere in the world with their grit and stamina. He said that Punjab has made enormous contribution in the national freedom struggle, in defending its border and making the country self reliant in food production. However Mr. Badal lamented that Punjabis have not been rewarded for their massive contribution due to the apathetic attitude of the previous Union Government. He pleaded for similar economic package for the revival of industry in the state, which had been badly hit, with the incentives extended to the hilly states.
Exhorting the industrialists to play a proactive role in setting up of Skill centers to impart technical training to the unemployed youth, the Chief Minister said that the state government would extend all possible help to them for this noble cause, which would provide a pool of talented manpower on one hand besides empowering the unemployed youth with gainful employment on the other. Mr. Badal also appealed the industrialists and entrepreneurs to contribute generously for the overall social and philanthropic projects under CSR. Earlier, the senior Editor of India Today group Mr. Asit Jolly and Group Business Head Mr. Manoj Sharma welcomed the Chief Minister for gracing the occasion.On the occasion the Chief Minister also released a coffee table book highlighting the enormous contribution of the prominent industrial wizards from the region besides honoring them with an award for their rare feat in the field of industry, trade and business.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Special Principal Secretary Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar.