IEP New Delhi/ Chandigarh
Due to concerted efforts of the state government led by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Ambassadors of the various countries on Wednesday evinced keen interest in making huge investments in the state.
During the meetings with the Ambassadors, the Chief Minister showcased Punjab as a land of opportunities and invited them to encourage the companies of their respective countries to invest in the state. He said that companies will be immensely benefited by investing in the state, which is rapidly emerging as the industrial hub of the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab has complete communal harmony, peace and amity, which are mainly responsible for overall development and prosperity in the state.
The Chief Minister said that the foreign companies should make optimum use of this congenial atmosphere backed by excellent infrastructure, power, skilled human resources and best industrial and work culture to spread their business. Extending a red carpet welcome to the companies, he said that the state government was always open for new ideas and innovations to boost up the industrial growth in Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the day is not far away when Punjab will emerge as the industrial hub of the country.
In a meeting with Australian Ambassador Phillip Green, the Chief Minister underlined the need for mutual cooperation in varied fields to further boost economy of Australia as well as that of Punjab. He said that there is a huge potential of investment in agriculture, sports industry, cattle feed, education and others in Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann invited the Australian companies to invest in the state adding that it will be mutually beneficial for Australia and Punjab.
During meeting with Ambassador of United Kingdom Alex Ellis, the Chief Minister said that there was a huge scope of mutual growth between Punjab and UK in Agri-Food Processing sector in terms of Processing for poultry, pork, value added dairy products, fruit Juice concentrate manufacturing, potato Processing, food Packaging and ready to Eat/Confectionary Items. Likewise, he said that both UK and Punjab can also be benefitted from strategic tie ups in Pharmaceuticals, Engineering, Information Technology and Chemical sectors adding he invited the UK universities to set up their campuses in Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann also reminded the Ambassador about the pivotal role being played by Punjabis in socio-economic development of United Kingdom adding he also flagged the issue of providing Direct flight connectivity between UK and Punjab to facilitate the passengers.
In a meeting with Ambassador of Brazil Kenneth H. da Nobrega, the Chief Minister said that there was a huge scope of investment by the Brazilian companies especially in sectors like Agro Food Processing, New and Renewable Source of Energy, Logistics, Information and Technology and Chemicals. He said that Brazilian companies can be immensely benefitted by investing in the state as apart from fertile land the state has a pool of skilled and hard working manpower which can be of immense use for them. Bhagwant Singh Mann assured that the state will provide fulsome support and cooperation to the Brazalian companies desirous of investing in the state.
During deliberations with Ambassador of Spain José María Ridao, the Chief Minister apprised him that Punjab exports major products like basmati rice, bulk drugs, products of steel and iron, auto components, agro-chemicals, cotton fabrics, madeups and others to Spain and the total value of these exports was Rs 510.35 crores. He said that there is further a huge scope of investment in sectors of Agro food processing, Aerospace and Defence, New and Renewable Source of Energy, Information and Technology and Auto/ Automobile components. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that Spain is the 16th largest Foreign Direct Investor (FDI) in India and Punjab can also be immensely benefitted from it.
In a meeting with Malaysian Ambassador Dato Muzafar Shah Mustafa, the Chief Minister apprised him that Punjab has emerged as a most preferred Tourist destination and state government is already promoting tourism on a large scale. He said that strategic tie up between Punjab and Malaysia especially in Tourism and diaspora can be immensely beneficial for both. Likewise, he also said that there is a huge scope of investment in the state in sectors like Manufacturing, Information and technology, Energy and Agriculture and Food Processing.
During a meeting with Ambassador of Netherlands Mrs. Marie Louisa Gerards, the Chief Minister said that it is heartening to know that Netherlands is the fourth largest Foreign Direct Investor (FDI) in India. He said that companies from Netherlands have already invested in Punjab and he had also performed the groundbreaking ceremony of De Heus factory at Vividha Industrial Park, Rajpura in October 2023. Likewise, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Centre of Excellence for Potato crop is an Indo-Dutch Project is running successfully and the Dutch government, in collaboration with Dutch organizations Solidaridad, PUM (an organization founded by VNO-NCW and Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs) is working with textile finishing cluster in Ludhiana adding he said that there is a huge scope of investment in several other sectors like Food Processing, Logistics, Alloys and Steels, Pharmaceuticals and Information Technology.
