Punjab CM discusses collaborative ventures with Japan

PTI

Japan and Punjab today discussed the possibility of cooperation in ventures across the fields like agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure and commerce to boost investment in the north Indian state.

The discussion took place over a formal dinner hosted by the Punjab government for a high-level Japanese business and industry delegation led by Hiramatsu-San, Ambassador of Japan to India.

Addressing the delegation, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said he was looking forward to collaborating with Japan on a wide range of projects across key segments of growth, such as manufacturing, infrastructure, commerce etc.

Noting that Punjab and Japan had a huge potential for doing business together, Amarinder extended to the Japanese delegation all support in ensuring ease of business.

He spoke about the new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility built by Sonalika Tractors in collaboration with a Japanese company to underline the value that Punjab could gain from Japan.

He had inaugurated the plant in Hoshiarpur earlier in the day.

The Chief Minister said that the industry was showing a lot of interest in investing in Punjab since the change in government in the state.

It was evident that the industry was encouraged by the excellent output shown by Punjabi workers, many of whom had made a name for themselves as NRI diaspora settled in various parts of the world, he added.

The Japanese envoy, on his part, said he saw massive opportunity for cooperation with Punjab, which has a strong and excellent labour core.

Pointing out that there was a lot of competition among Indian states to attract investment, the ambassador expressed the hope that Punjab would give the Japanese business and industrial houses a good deal to enable mutual growth and benefit.