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Punjab CM invites companies looking to leave China, says huge opportunities await them

PUNJAB NEWS EXPRESS | May 30, 2020 11:29 AM

CHANDIGARH: days, pointing to the huge opportunity they had to grow in view of the increasing number of companies looking to shift from China.

His government was already in touch with several countries to invite them to invest and set up industrial units in Punjab, said Captain Amarinder, adding that he was confident that the state would be able to attract a lot of industry from China.

Promising to take their suggestions into account to facilitate the revival of the state’s economy post Covid lockdown, the Chief Minister underscored the role being played by industry in the development of Punjab, and their continued efforts to restore normal business in these difficult circumstances.

Interacting with industry stalwarts at a Video Conference on “Action plan to revive Punjab economy post Covid lockdown”, the Chief Minister thanked them for taking on the difficult challenge of resuming operations in the midst of the pandemic, and despite the difficulties caused by the various curbs in place to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.

With 78% industry already having resumed operations, and 68% of the migrant labour choosing to stay back in the state, the Chief Minister directed the Industry Department to expedite the process of providing clearances and ensuring further ease of business to out the industry back on track at the earliest amid the easing of restrictions amid the continued lockdown.

Exuding confidence of early resumption of the remaining industry over the next few days, the Chief Minister disclosed that no train had left with migrant labour from the state today, which was a good sign and indicative of the fact that the workers were satisfied with the arrangements made for their care during the curfew/lockdown.

Industry Minister Sunder Sham Arora said in addition to the large number of workers who had chosen to stay back in Punjab, there were many who wanted to come back in the light of the opening up of an increasing number of industrial units. The state government was planning to write to the Centre to arrange for trains to bring back such migrant labourers keen to come back from other states to Punjab, he said.

Thanking the industry for supporting the government in ensuring that migrant labourers in the state faced no problems, as per the Chief Minister’s instructions, Arora also promised all possible measures to ensure smooth reopening of industry.

Earlier, leading industry stalwarts suggested various short term measures and urgent interventions to support the economic revival of the state. Representatives from a wide spectrum of sectors, including Manufacturing, IT, Start-ups, Agriculture, Healthcare & Pharma, Education & Skill Development, Media, Real Estate & Tourism,   came out with general and sector-specific recommendations to put industrial growth in Punjab back on track.

Besides seeking permission for technological upgradation of industry in the red zones to ensure continuity of operations, Sushen Mittal - Director, Aarti Group, which has already tied up with Tata Steel to start a scrappage plant by the end of the year, also underlined the need for a formal scrappage policy.

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