Chandigarh, December 8:
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday extended invitation to the leading Koran firms like Daewoo E&C, GS Engineering & Construction (GS E&C), Nongshim, Korea Defense Industry Association (KDIA), Seoul Business Agency (SBA) and others to invest in the state.
During meeting with Chairman of Daewoo E&C Jung Won Joo during his visit to South Korea, the Chief Minister batted for cooperation in the fields of Renewable energy projects including offshore wind farms, solar power plants and hydrogen production facilities. Likewise, he said that there was a huge potential of collaboration in the areas like development of energy infrastructure such as LNG terminals, petrochemical complexes and fertilizer plants, Urban development and smart city projects with integrated housing and advanced infrastructure solutions and civil infrastructure projects including roads, bridges, railways, ports and airports. Bhagwant Singh Mann also underscored the need for strengthening cooperation in sectors like
technology transfer for modular and prefabricated construction methods to enable faster and cost-effective building solutions.
During strategic meeting with Daewoo E&C, one of South Korea’s foremost engineering and infrastructure companies, the Chief Minister highlighted Punjab’s strong industrial momentum, modern infrastructure initiatives, and the unique Unified Regulator framework under Invest Punjab. He encouraged the Global Business Group, to explore opportunities in large-scale infrastructure development, adoption of modern construction technologies, and upcoming industrial townships in the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann also laid stress on cooperation in ESG and green hydrogen initiatives through joint ventures aligned with global sustainability standards.
In another meeting with Vice President of GS Engineering & Construction (GS E&C) Young Ha Ryu (Daniel), the Chief Minister underscored the need for tie up in sector of Renewable Energy Projects (solar, wind, hydrogen), Infrastructure Development (roads, bridges, smart cities) and Industrial Complexes and EPC Services. He also said that there was a huge scope in the key sectors like Technology Transfer for Modular Construction and Green Hydrogen and Clean Energy Initiatives. Bhagwant Singh Mann assured fulsome support and cooperation in these key sectors to give impetus to the development of the state.
In a meeting with Nongshim Holdings, a leading Packaged Foods and Beverages company, the Chief Minister batted for Food and Food processing adding that Joint development of new instant noodle flavors tailored for Indian tastes should be done. Likewise, he also batted for expansion of Nongshim’s presence in Indian supermarkets and e-commerce platforms and collaborating on campaigns targeting health-conscious and youth segments. Bhagwant Singh Mann also advocated tie up with local suppliers for eco-friendly packaging solutions and partnering on research for longevity foods and plant-based alternatives.
During parleys with Vice Chairman Korea Defense Industry Association (KDIA) Lee Sung kyu, the Chief Minister batted for exploring opportunities for collaboration in defense manufacturing and technology transfer to strengthen industrial capabilities. He also batted for collaboration in Cybersecurity and advanced defense technologies such as AI, robotics, and unmanned systems for knowledge exchange and cooperation. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab and Korea
can consider joint efforts in skill development and training programs to enhance workforce expertise in defense engineering and production.
In a meeting with Director, Startup Division Seoul Business Agency (SBA) Jong Woo Kim, the Chief Minister said that there was a huge scope for collaboration in startup incubation and acceleration programs offered by SBA. He also discussed SBA’s global marketing and export support initiatives to help Punjab-based startups access international markets adding that knowledge exchange on innovation ecosystems and best practices for fostering entrepreneurship is the need of hour. Bhagwant Singh Mann also underscored need for exploring cooperation in branding and certification programs like Seoul Awards to enhance product credibility for Punjab enterprises.
Meanwhile, during Roundtable meeting on ease of doing business in Punjab, the Chief Minister held deliberations with key Korean companies Bae, Kim & Lee LLC (BKL), Yulchon LLC, Buddtree Management Group, SK Securities, Kim & Chang, Shin & Kim, Lee & Ko, Dentons Lee, Korea International Trade Organization (KITA), Korea Association of Robot Industry (KAR), Korea Trade Investment Promotion Association (KOTRA), Korea Auto Parts Industry Cooperative (KAP), Yuanta Securities, Capstone Asset Management, NH Investment & Securities Co., Ltd, Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET) and others. During the meeting, he showcased Punjab as the most preferred investment destinations and apprised them about the key reforms introduced by the state government. Bhagwant Singh Mann also solicited the views of the leading companies to further streamline this mechanism to give boost to industrial development.
The Chief Minister also visited Pangyo Techno Valley, widely known as the “Silicon Valley of Korea,” to study one of Asia’s most advanced innovation ecosystems. Officials from the Gyeonggido Business & Science Accelerator (GBSA) briefed the Chief Minister on Pangyo’s integrated model for nurturing deep-tech innovation, startups, and high-value research. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is heartening to learn that with over 1,780 companies, 83,000 professionals, and 25,000 researchers, Pangyo represents a globally successful innovation district.
The Chief Minister noted the effectiveness of Pangyo’s structured accelerator programmes, specialised testbeds, and performance-driven evaluation mechanisms. He said that similar approaches can be adapted in Mohali to strengthen Punjab’s startup ecosystem, R&D capabilities, and high-skilled employment generation. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is the need of hour to give further fillip to the comprehensive development of Mohali.
The Chief Minister said that through these extensive engagements, Punjab government reinforced its commitment to welcome Korean companies, promoting innovation-led industrial development, and building long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships. He said that there is a huge scope for collaboration in varied sectors like manufacturing, technology, food processing, and research. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Seoul roadshow marks an important milestone ahead of the Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2026, where global investors will be invited to explore Punjab’s rapidly expanding economic and industrial opportunities.
