Continuing for the second day of his interaction with the state’s industrialists, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday announced a major thrust on the industry’s development in the border districts to further propel the economic activity in the State. At the same time, the Chief Minister also announced giving a major boost to the tourism industry in the state by tapping the immense potential available.
The Chief Minister, interacting with the industrialists at Pathankot as a part of the run-up of the Invest Punjab Summit on February 23-24 at Mohali, slammed the successive governments in the state for completely ignoring the state’s border belt. “These governments completely betrayed the residents of border districts by neglecting their immense contribution for the country…They have braved every odd for the sake of preserving the unity and integrity of the country,” said Mann while describing the residents of border areas as ‘true patriots’.
He said that the State Government will soon develop a blueprint for the comprehensive development of the industry in the border towns. “It is the need of hour for developing Punjab as hub of industry, on one hand, and opening new vistas of employment for the youth, on the other,” he said.
Announcing a major boost to the tourism industry across the State by harnessing the immense potential of this sector, Mann said that the State is blessed with several natural resources which can be developed into international tourist destinations, like Ranjit Sagar Dam.
Envisioning that these tourist spots have huge potential to put the state on the roadmap of international tourism, Mann said that the State Government will make concerted efforts for safeguarding, promoting, and expanding the existing industrial units in the state.
“The industrialists have played a key role in the country's socio-economic growth…These industries have carved a niche for them across the globe and the State Government will make every effort to ensure that their interests are safeguarded,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that these existing units compete well with the other industries at the national and international level. The main motive of organizing these interactive sessions across the State is to ensure maximum participation of the local industry in the progressive Punjab Investors Summit.
He reiterated that the local industry should become the state’s brand ambassador for emerging it as an industrial hub across the globe.
Political Stability, Quick Decision-Making Mechanism to Make Punjab Frontrunner Industrial State
In Amritsar, the Chief Minister said that current political stability and quick decision-making mechanism, along with the out-of-box ideas will soon make Punjab a front-running industrial state in the country.
The Chief Minister, interacting with industrialists at Amritsar, said that the State is blessed with several natural resources which can be developed into international tourist points. “The State Government is coming up with a concrete proposal for developing Ranjit Sagar Dam, Chohal Dam, Nurpur Bedi and others into state of the art tourist destinations. These tourist spots have huge potential to put the state on the roadmap of international tourism,” he said.
Mann said that the holy city will be further developed into a hub of religious and patriotic tourism. “No stone will be left for this noble cause and every effort will be made for the promotion of the tourism sector. He also assured the local industrialists that while promoting tourism sector, preference will be given to the local industry. “Rather than inviting big players from within the country and abroad, priority will be given to the local industrialists for developing these tourism spots. This will allow the local industrialists to flex their muscles in the sector and emerge Punjab as a hub of tourism,” he added.
Plans to Boost Agro-Industry
Stating that the State Government is also planning to boost the agro-industry in a big way, Mann said that Punjab produces 80 percent of the total Basmati produced in the country and this production will further be enhanced in the coming days. “This will revolutionize the industrial sector on one hand and supplement the income of farmers besides saving the precious natural resource in the form of water,” he said.
Don’t Go Anywhere…Expand Business Here To Serve Motherland: CM Appeals Entrepreneurs
Striking an emotional chord with the entrepreneurs, Chief Minister asked them not to go anywhere and rather focus on expanding their business here to serve their motherland. “The State Government is already providing a conducive environment to the industry in the State. Punjabi entrepreneurs have proved their mettle across the globe and now they should focus on growth within the state,” he said, adding that this will open new vistas of employment for the youth besides giving a major push to industry. Mann also announced that the State Government will soon introduce color-coding for stamp papers to facilitate the industrialists for early clearance of their projects.
