The North News
Phagwara, January 16
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday inaugurated the state’s first Startup Punjab Conclave at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Kapurthala, placing innovation, hard work, and entrepreneurship at the heart of the government’s economic vision. Organised by the Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of Punjab, the Startup Punjab Conclave 2026 emerged as a flagship state-level platform celebrating innovation, entrepreneurship, and the state’s rapidly expanding startup ecosystem.
With over 100 startups participating, seed grants being disbursed, and industry leaders, investors, incubators, academic experts, and policymakers converging under one roof, the Bhagwant Mann government sent an unambiguous message of full institutional backing to new business ideas, urging Punjab’s youth to become job creators and unveiling “Update and Create” as the new mantra for youth-led growth, asserting that Punjab’s future lies in entrepreneurship, not job hunting.
Interacting with entrepreneurs at the startup conclave, the Chief Minister said that the government’s clear objective is to transform Punjab’s youth from job seekers into job givers and enable them to carve a distinct identity for themselves. “We want the youth of the state to be job givers instead of job seekers, so that they can carve a niche for themselves,” he said, adding that Punjabis are natural engineers and born entrepreneurs, which is why they succeed in every endeavour they undertake.
The Chief Minister said the Punjab government is fully committed to giving wings to the dreams of Punjabis and assured that no stone would be left unturned in this direction. Coining the slogan of “update and create,” he said, “There is no dearth of funds and the government will help every single idea mooted by business leaders.”
Sharing his observations from his recent visit to Japan, the Chief Minister said that countries progress because of a clear vision for the future. “In Japan, every mode of transportation is accessible from a single window. Japan has the vision to see the future,” he said, citing companies like Rising Star and Rising Sun as examples of a positive mindset that has contributed to an average lifespan of over 100 years. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann urged Punjab’s youth to adopt a similar forward-thinking approach, describing it as the key to success.
Referring again to Japan, the Chief Minister said that Japanese citizens work overtime to achieve their dreams, which also contributes to longevity of life. “Punjabis must learn these traits to excel globally and further prove their mettle. The Punjab government is making sustained and concerted efforts for the future of coming generations, calling it a moral duty of his government,” he added.
