North News
Chandigarh, November 13
Punjab’s Industry and Commerce Minister, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, revealed on Wednesday that the state’s new Information Technology (IT) policy would soon be implemented, with Mohali set to become North India’s leading IT hub. The policy is expected to create job opportunities for approximately 55,000 IT professionals.
Sond highlighted that the state’s industrial policy and facilities have attracted significant interest from IT companies and delegations looking to establish operations in Punjab. He also expressed pride in the “Invest Punjab” portal, which has ranked first nationwide, with over 58,000 small and medium-sized enterprises registered.
The minister emphasized that a series of reforms are underway to place Punjab at the forefront of India’s industrial landscape. In the first phase, five cities will see significant development to serve as role models, with major upgrades planned for these industrial focal points.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Sond reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing the industrial sector and expressed optimism about its rapid growth due to the state’s industry-friendly policies.
During the Vision Punjab 2047 session, organized by the World Punjabi Organization and hosted by Rajya Sabha member Vikramjit Singh Sahni at Panjab University, Sond outlined plans to refine the industrial policy further, making it more business-friendly to accelerate growth. He also noted that Punjab had already attracted more than Rs. 86,000 crores in investments over the past two and a half years, with additional efforts underway to raise this figure.
Sond also discussed initiatives to promote tourism in the state, focusing on religious tourism and agro-based industries as key growth sectors. He confirmed that the restoration of Ludhiana’s Buddha Nullah was in its final stages, with implementation expected following approval from the Chief Minister.
Harjot Singh Bains, Minister for Education and Technical Education, spoke about new technical courses aligned with industry needs to certify skilled workers. He also invited industrialists to set up businesses in the Anandpur Sahib constituency, offering full support.
The panel discussion included insights from notable industrialists and Rajya Sabha member Vikramjit Singh Sahni, who stressed the importance of such forward-looking initiatives for Punjab’s development.
