CHANDIGARH/MOHALI, March 13:
Asserting that Mohali is rapidly emerging as a major technology and startup hub under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Cabinet Minister for Industries & Commerce, Investment Promotion, Power and Local Government Sanjeev Arora on Friday envisioned a transformative future for Mohali, stating that the city is rapidly on its way to becoming the “Silicon Valley”.
Addressing a high-powered session titled “Brand Mohali” on the first day of the Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2026 at Plaksha University, the Minister emphasised that Mohali is no longer just a satellite town but a global technology and start-up destination.
Minister Sanjeev Arora announced that the Punjab government is establishing a dedicated start-up hub at Kalkat Bhavan, modeled after the world-renowned Pangyo Techno Valley in South Korea. “Just as South Korea has its Silicon Valley, Punjab will soon have its own in Mohali. Our Chief Minister has already granted permission for this project, which will serve as a nerve centre for innovation,” said the Minister.
Highlighting the competitive edge of the new Industrial Policy, the Minister informed the gathering that power reforms have been a cornerstone of the state’s strategy. “We have moved IT companies and data centres from commercial to industrial power rates. Consequently, IT firms in Mohali will now receive the cheapest power in the entire country,” he stated.
He further detailed the lucrative worker subsidies, offering ₹5,000 per worker per month for IT firms and ₹7,000 for Global Capability Centres (GCCs), with significantly lowered eligibility barriers to encourage small and medium enterprises.
During the session, which saw participation from leaders in the hospitality, IT, education and medical sectors, Sanjeev Arora addressed the growing infrastructure needs.
He noted the recent auction of the Mohali Convention Centre and the opening of an Infosys Centre as milestones in the city’s urban expansion. “Mohali is emerging as a destination not just for business, but for destination weddings and international conferences, given its proximity to the hills and the international airport,” he added.
Touching upon the IT talent pool, Sanjeev Arora remarked that Punjabis constitute a massive portion of the workforce in global tech hubs like Silicon Valley. “By investing in Mohali, companies can hire the top 1% of Punjabi talent who prefer to stay close to their roots and culture, ensuring a much lower attrition rate compared to other tech hubs,” the Minister said.
On the healthcare front, the Minister congratulated the expansion of local medical facilities, including a ₹900 crore investment in hospital infrastructure, while urging private players to focus on “affordable healthcare” for the common man.
Regarding air connectivity, the Minister shared insights from recent discussions with Air India and Air India Express leadership, noting that while aircraft shortages are a global challenge, the state is pushing for more international slots to match Mohali’s growth trajectory.
Earlier, Principal Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department Vikas Garg highlighted that over the past one year, more than Rs 10,000 crores worth of land has been auctioned in the Mohali. Further, plans are in place to acquire 7,000 acres land in the city for full development infrastructure of Mohali, he said, while stating, “Our focus is to bring Mohali on map of Asia.”
The session featured prominent panelists including Chief Development Officer of ITC Hotels Limited Bhaskar Baruah, Founding Vice Chancellor Plaksha University Dr Rudra Pratap, Regional COO of Fortis Healthcare Ashish Bhatia, Co-Founder and CEO of Netsmartz Manipal Dhariwal and Founter TT Consultants, Xlscout Jitin Talwar, while, MDP of Boston Consulting Group was Moderator of the session. Vice Chairperson of the Punjab Development Commission Seema Bansal was also present on the occasion.
