Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Friday launched 24 sector-wise industrial advisory committees, with an aim to make Punjab a hub of industry and commerce.
Addressing the gathering during the launch of the said initiative, which they held is first in the country, Kejriwal held that the era prior to 2022 was dominated by extortion, where industrialists were coerced by political leaders to give up stakes in their businesses. As a result, Kejriwal said that industries fled the state, and Punjab was pushed into a crisis, particularly with the drug menace.
Recalling the government-industry interaction in September 2023, Mann in his address, said the idea of these 24 sector-specific committees was born out of those consultations. Stating that these committees will be responsible for drafting detailed strategies tailored to each industrial domain, he held that many industrialists present at the event are also committee members and expressed confidence that these groups will draft the roadmap for Punjab’s industrial future.
He further held that while preparing the New Industrial Policy, these committees will ensure equal partnership from industry stakeholders. Mann urged all industrialists to actively contribute ideas and share their valuable suggestions in formulating industry-friendly policies.
He said that Punjab is already leading in key sectors like food processing, textiles, auto components, hand tools, bicycle manufacturing, IT, and tourism. Mann held that since March 2022, Punjab has received investment proposals worth Rs 1.14 lakh crore, which will lead to the creation of over 4.5 lakh job opportunities.
