Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday announced that his govt would establish three world-class exhibition centres at Ludhiana, New Chandigarh (Mohali) and Amritsar to give a major boost to industry and commerce in the state.Interacting with the industrialists during various sessions at the ongoing Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit, Mann said: “Punjab does not have big exhibition centres, due to which the industry does not have proper place to showcase its products. To address this gap, the Punjab govt is in the process of setting up three world-class exhibition centres at Ludhiana, New Chandigarh and Amritsar on the lines of Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, so that industry gets a strong platform to display its goods and boost economic activity.”“This summit transformed into a well-managed platform where investors are sharing ideas and exploring opportunities in a big way. This will benefit both Punjab and the investors as we collectively work towards strengthening the state’s economy,” he added.“Punjab is the land of revolution, and Punjabis adopt new ideas quickly. That is why Punjabis excelled in every sphere across the world. Our aim is to further strengthen the export-driven economy of Punjab, as the state has enormous potential to move from traditional agricultural exports to value-added products,” said the CM.Mann said his govt was preparing the state for the next 50 years of economic growth, with a clear vision of transforming Punjab into a global export hub.Describing the Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit as a resounding success, the CM said: “All 30 sessions planned during the summit were fully attended, which shows the strong interest of the business community in Punjab’s growth story. At the same time, we must address the challenge that bumper agricultural production without value addition often creates an imbalance between supply and demand.”Mann emphasised that diversification of agriculture was essential to break the wheat-paddy cycle. “Farmers in Punjab want to move beyond the wheat-paddy cycle, but the challenge is the lack of viable alternatives. Food processing offers a practical solution. Farmers will adopt crops like maize if they receive income comparable to paddy. Therefore, we must ensure that diversification becomes economically viable for farmers,” he said.He invited investors and delegates to share their ideas directly with the decision-making teams of the Punjab govt and also highlighted the success of the Kissan Ketchup plant at Nabha.“When the Kissan Ketchup plant was first set up in Nabha, tomatoes were imported from Maharashtra. Today, nearly 60% of the tomatoes are sourced locally from Punjab after farmers adopted the required varieties. This is a strong example of how agriculture and industry can work together,” he said.Mann also highlighted that Punjab currently exported goods worth over USD 7 billion and had a strong presence in sectors such as agriculture, engineering goods, textiles, auto components and pharmaceuticals. “With more than 14 lakh MSMEs, Punjab has a strong base of enterprises that contribute to exports, employment and industrial growth,” he said.The CM said his govt aimed to transform Punjab into a major export hub of north India by combining manufacturing strength with efficient logistics systems. “We invite industry leaders, exporters and logistics companies to partner with Punjab in expanding our global footprint,” he said.“Punjab is steadily moving towards clean and reliable energy as part of our long-term development strategy. Renewable energy will play a key role in meeting growing industrial demand, agricultural needs and emerging sectors such as electric mobility,” Mann added.MSID:: 129576975 413 |
