In a move to boost Punjab's economy, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday spearheaded a series of marathon meetings with Ambassadors from various countries, urging them to encourage companies in their respective nations to invest in the State. The high-profile discussions, held in New Delhi, saw foreign diplomats expressing keen interest in making substantial investments in Punjab.
During these deliberations, the Chief Minister portrayed Punjab as a land of abundant opportunities, emphasizing communal harmony, peace, and amity as pivotal factors contributing to the overall development and prosperity in the State. Mann extended a red-carpet welcome to foreign companies, highlighting Punjab's excellent infrastructure, power, skilled human resources, and conducive industrial work culture.
Mann showcased the state as rapidly becoming an industrial hub, urging foreign companies to capitalize on the favorable conditions and spread their business.
In separate meetings, Chief Minister engaged with ambassadors from Australia, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Spain, Malaysia, and the Netherlands, exploring avenues for mutual cooperation and potential investments in various sectors.
During discussions with Australian Ambassador Phillip Green, Mann highlighted the vast potential for investment in agriculture, sports industry, cattle feed, and education in Punjab, inviting Australian companies to participate in the state's growth.
In a meeting with the UK Ambassador Alex Ellis, the Chief Minister emphasized mutual growth opportunities, particularly in the Agri-Food Processing sector, and suggested strategic tie-ups in pharmaceuticals, engineering, information technology, and chemical sectors.
Inviting the UK universities to set up their campuses in Punjab, Mann also flagged the issue of providing direct flight connectivity between UK and Punjab to facilitate the passengers.
Addressing Brazilian Ambassador Kenneth H da Nobrega, Mann identified significant investment opportunities in agro food processing, renewable energy, logistics, information technology, and chemicals, encouraging Brazilian companies to explore the potential benefits of investing in Punjab.
During discussions with Spanish Ambassador José María Ridao, Mann highlighted Punjab's significant exports to spain and identified further investment potential in agro-food processing, aerospace and defence, renewable energy, information technology, and auto/automobile components.
Engaging with Malaysian Ambassador Dato Muzafar Shah Mustafa, Mann emphasized strategic collaboration in Tourism and diaspora, recognizing the immense potential for both Punjab and Malaysia. “There is a huge scope of investment in the state in sectors like manufacturing, information and technology, energy and agriculture and food processing,” Mann suggested.
In a meeting with Netherlands Ambassador Marie Louisa Gerards, Mann celebrated the existing Indo-Dutch projects, such as the Centre of Excellence for Potato crop, and identified further opportunities for investments in Food Processing, Logistics, Alloys and Steels, Pharmaceuticals, and Information Technology.
