Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, March 14: The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has succeeded in creating an investment-friendly environment within the state. This announcement was made today by the state's Minister of Public Works, Harbhajan Singh ETO, while addressing a session on heavy machinery and agricultural machinery held at Plaksha University.
He stated that the government had constituted 25 sectoral committees to formulate its industrial policy, and the policy currently being implemented in the state is based on the recommendations provided by these committees. He further mentioned that, to ensure superior road connectivity, the Punjab government is undertaking the construction of 45,000 kilometers of roads at a cost of ?16,209 crore, a project that includes the development of 4,700 kilometers of greenfield roads.
During the session, experts observed that just as Punjab previously earned global renown in the hosiery and agricultural sectors, it is now establishing a strong reputation in the manufacturing sector for heavy machinery and agricultural equipment.
Addressing the session, Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Secretary of Punjab's Department of Commerce and Industry, explained that the Punjab government—under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann—formulated its industrial policy in consultation with industry experts and tailored to meet the specific requirements of every industrial sector.
He highlighted that the state government has introduced a range of incentives and benefits to provide companies with a highly industry-friendly ecosystem.
Speaking at the session, Upkar Singh Ahuja, Chairman of the CII Ludhiana Chapter, remarked that just as Punjab—and Ludhiana in particular—stood as the global hub for the hosiery industry in the 1960s, the state has now emerged as a national leader in the manufacturing of heavy machinery and agricultural equipment.
He added that the Punjab government has resolved to extend special support to agro-based industries, a move expected to provide a significant boost to the state's agricultural industrial sector. He further emphasized the need to strengthen the tool industry to ensure that the state's overall industrialization process becomes even more robust. Speaking on behalf of Sonalika Tractors, Akshay Sangwan stated that Punjab ranks as the third-largest power globally in the field of tractor manufacturing; however, we must now develop new, state-of-the-art, technology-driven agricultural machinery aligned with global demand, thereby reducing costs and dependence on manual labor.
Speaking on the occasion regarding the MSME sector, Anil Chaudhary remarked that there is a need to attract major corporations—such as Tata and Reliance—to the state, as this would provide a significant boost to small and medium-sized industries.