Chandigarh/SAS Nagar: Terming Punjab a premier destination for business, Japan based industry leaders highlighted the favourable ecosystem for investment in the state during a country session held during Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit at Plaksha University. They noted that Punjab’s progressive industrial outlook and facilitative governance framework are encouraging greater interest from Japanese companies in expanding their footprint in the region.
Speaking on the occasion, Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister and State President of Aam Aadmi Party Aman Arora underlined that Punjab is keen to deepen collaboration with Japanese partners in emerging sectors including integrated EV and automotive manufacturing ecosystems, agri mechanisation, smart farming technologies and clean energy solutions. He stated that Japan has consistently remained one of India’s most dependable development partners whose companies have played a significant role in strengthening modern industrial capabilities across infrastructure advanced manufacturing and mobility sectors.
Highlighting Punjab’s growing industrial momentum, the Cabinet Minister observed that the state today offers a robust manufacturing base a highly skilled workforce and strategic connectivity to key North Indian markets which makes it an attractive hub for global partnerships. He said the successful presence of reputed Japanese enterprises in areas such as agricultural machinery, automotive materials and industrial coatings reflects the strength of Indo-Japanese industrial cooperation which has brought investment along with world class precision engineering standards and quality driven practices.
Stressing sustainability as a key priority, he added that the state is actively promoting biomass utilisation, renewable energy adoption and circular economy initiatives while also prioritising skill development through globally acclaimed Japanese manufacturing philosophies including continuous improvement and high precision quality management. He expressed confidence that by combining Punjab’s industrial strengths with Japan’s technological leadership both sides can build a long term manufacturing and innovation partnership aimed at sustainable growth enhanced global competitiveness and shared prosperity.
Administrative Secretary Industries and Commerce Department Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, while addressing the session, said that Punjab has recently unveiled a landmark industrial policy identifying 24 thrust sectors with dedicated committees headed by leading industrialists to guide sector specific growth. He informed that more than 77 percent recommendations of these committees and industry stakeholders have been accepted by the state government. He further said that the state has also enacted the Right to Business Act which facilitates in principle approvals within 5 to 18 days for industrial proposals along with a provision of deemed approval certification after the stipulated 45 day period.
Addressing the gathering, Minister from the Japanese Embassy Yamazaki Fumio observed that India and Japan as two major democracies are strengthening cooperation across diverse industrial sectors.
Chief Executive Officer of Toppan Speciality Films Pvt Ltd Amit Jain said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had visited their headquarters in Japan and the company is planning to invest Rs.300 to Rs.400 crore in Punjab in the near future.
Vice President Operations of Yanmar Agricultural Machinery India Private Limited Sumit Kaplish said that the company shares a strong connect with Punjab owing to the availability of skilled talent a rich tradition of craftsmanship and peaceful industrial relations. He added that warm and welcoming business culture along with practical industry friendly policies attractive incentives reliable power supply and excellent road connectivity have motivated the company to expand its operations in the state.
Representative of Japan External Trade Organization Taku Hiroki said that both nations are working closely on economic security and advanced technologies and the Invest Punjab Summit is expected to encourage greater investment interest from Japanese companies in view of the state’s business friendly industrial policy.
