To transfer technology as well as help the farmers to grow Chinese vegetables to give a boost to Punjab’s diversification drive, the Shanghai Municipal Agriculture Commission will partner with the State Government.
In a statement issued here on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, currently on a visit to China, the Shanghai Agriculture Commission vice chairman Feng Zhioyong said that the Commission had already visited Punjab and would identify areas of mutual interest for sharing of best practices.
Badal said that Punjab was promoting food processing industry in a big way while urging the Chinese companies to invest in this sector. He also gave details of the tax concessions as well as availability of pre-cleared sites and fast clearances to set up industry in Punjab.
Business delegate Bhavdeep Sardana of Sukhjit Starch suggested that Punjab could use Chinese agriculture technology in soya bean processing to catapult its agriculture sector to the next level. He said Punjab farmers could also grow vegetables used in Chinese cuisine.
Punjab delegation also visited the State-owned Bright milk plant in Shanghai. The plant, which is one of the biggest in China, is one of the biggest producers of ultra-heat treated (UHT) milk.
Sukhbir suggested that Chinese expertise in this sector be used to rejuvenate Verka brand as well as produce UHT milk in Punjab which could be marketed successfully during the summer months when there is a shortage in supply.
Earlier, large number of high-end bicycle and electric cycle manufacturers pledged their support to the proposed Cycle Valley coming up in ludhiana in one to one meetings with Sukhbir Badal.
Sukhbir, along with Hero Cycles chairman Pankaj Munjal, discussed the exact nature of investment which could flow into the Cycle Valley as well as the quantum of investment. Several companies said that they were looking at investments between five to ten million dollars in the initial stages.