The North News
Mohali, March 13
Punjab secured investment commitments worth more than Rs 10,000 crore on the opening day of the Progressive Punjab Investors Summit 2026 on Friday, with several major companies announcing plans to expand or set up operations in the state.
Addressing investors and business leaders in Mohali, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said the summit marked the start of a new phase of industrial growth, employment and economic expansion in Punjab. He said the state had attracted leading firms including HMEL, Tata Steel, JSW, Trident Group and Hero Industries, which announced investment and expansion plans during the first day of the event.
“It is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that on the very first day of the Progressive Punjab Investors Summit 2026, the state has secured investments worth more than Rs 10,000 crore,” Mann said.
He said the state government was seeking to position Punjab as a major investment destination through faster approvals, pro-industry policies and a focus on education, healthcare and skilled manpower.
Mann said Punjab’s industrial strategy was aimed not only at bringing in investment but also at creating jobs and building a long-term partnership between government and industry.
He urged business leaders to invest in the state, saying Punjab’s policies were flexible and designed to meet industry needs.
The chief minister also highlighted improvements in education, connectivity and infrastructure, saying the government was aligning skill development with industrial demand to create a strong pool of trained workers.
He said the summit was not just about signing investment agreements, but also about exchanging ideas and shaping Punjab’s economic future.
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, who also addressed the summit, said the Punjab government would provide all support needed for industries to compete globally, including with China.
He said Punjab had already attracted Rs 1.5 lakh crore in investment over the past four years, adding that these were projects that had already begun on the ground rather than only memorandums of understanding.
Kejriwal said the government had introduced a 45-day single-window clearance system through the Fast Track Punjab portal, under which industrial approvals are to be granted within a fixed timeframe.
He said if approvals were not issued within 45 days, they would be automatically deemed approved on the 46th day.
For micro, small and medium enterprises investing up to Rs 15 crore, he said approvals were even faster, with self-certification and clearance letters issued within five days.
Mr Kejriwal said the reforms were part of a wider effort to reduce government interference in business and make Punjab more attractive to investors.
He also said the government had focused heavily on education and healthcare, arguing that industrial growth depended on a skilled and healthy workforce.
The AAP leader claimed Punjab had risen from 18th to first place in national education rankings in recent years, and said improvements in government schools had helped students from state-run institutions clear competitive exams such as JEE and NEET.
He added that the government had also strengthened public healthcare and introduced wider financial protection for poorer families facing medical costs.
Kejriwal said the investments received by Punjab in recent years were expected to generate around 5.5 lakh jobs for young people.
He repeatedly urged industrialists to expand manufacturing in Punjab, arguing that Indian businesses — and Punjabis in particular — had the talent and work ethic to reduce dependence on imported goods and compete with global producers.
The summit opened with a strong political pitch from the AAP leadership, which sought to present Punjab as a state ready for a fresh industrial push after years of economic stagnation and industrial flight.
