Punjab Trade Promotion Council announces excellence awards

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PTPC to promote food processing, exports and MSMEs; first seminar and excellence awards scheduled for September 8 in Chandigarh.

Chandigarh , August 26

The Punjab Trade Promotion Council (PTPC), a newly constituted autonomous industry body registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, on Monday unveiled its vision for strengthening Punjab’s trade and industrial ecosystem and announced its first flagship seminar-cum-awards function to be held on September 8 at the MGSIPA Auditorium, Sector 26, Chandigarh.

The announcement was made during a press conference at the Press Club, Chandigarh, attended by PTPC founders, advisors, industry representatives and officials from its collaborating partner, Desh Bhagat University.

PTPC Chairman Kanchan Sharma said the council aims to position Punjab as a globally recognised trade, investment and industrial hub while strengthening the state’s links with national and international markets.

Bal Mukund Sharma, Chairman of the Punjab Food Commission and a key figure in the formation of PTPC, said the council would work to empower businesses, promote exports, attract investment and support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across manufacturing and service sectors.

He said PTPC would work in coordination with initiatives of the Punjab and Central governments to ensure that government schemes and programs reach entrepreneurs and industries effectively.

The council’s first seminar will focus on the food processing sector, particularly food and nutraceutical MSMEs. The event, themed “Promoting Punjab’s Food Processing, Specifically Food & Nutraceutical MSMEs — Policy, Promotion & Progress,” will bring policymakers, industry leaders, MSMEs, start-ups and institutions onto a common platform.

The seminar will feature two technical sessions. The first, scheduled from 11:20 am to 1 pm, will focus on government policies, fiscal incentives, institutional support and opportunities for start-ups and MSMEs in the food processing sector.

The second session, from 2 pm to 4 pm, will focus on the role of farmer producer organisations (FPOs), self-help groups (SHGs) and rural entrepreneurs in the food processing ecosystem. A mobile application will also be launched during the session, followed by the PTPC Excellence Awards ceremony.

The inaugural PTPC Excellence Awards will recognise outstanding food processing enterprises in five categories — Micro Enterprise, Small Enterprise, Medium Enterprise, Export Excellence and Women Entrepreneur. Nominations are open to eligible food processing units operating in Punjab. An independent jury will assess entries on parameters including business growth, employment generation, innovation, quality compliance, farmer linkages, sustainability and export performance.

The nomination process began on August 19 and will remain open until September 2. Eligible entrepreneurs and enterprises can submit nominations online through a designated Google Form managed by Desh Bhagat University on behalf of PTPC.

PTPC also appealed to government departments, institutions and media organisations to help identify and promote deserving entrepreneurs from across Punjab and encourage their participation in the seminar and awards.

During the press conference, Desh Bhagat University President Dr Sandeep Singh stressed the importance of strengthening industry-academia linkages, while industry representatives Tajinder Singh, founder of Agnex, and Arun Grover, MD of Amartex, welcomed the initiative and called for greater support for Punjab’s MSMEs and start-ups.

PTPC also formally released its Vision Statement at the event.