(MOREPIC1) Face2News/Chandigarh
Calling the refusal to clear an official investment outreach visit to the United Kingdom without assigning any reason “unfortunate and condemnable,” Punjab’s Industry & Commerce and Investment Promotion Minister Minister Sanjeev Arora said the Union Government’s decision had dealt a needless blow to Punjab’s efforts to attract global investment and generate jobs for its youth. The Punjab Minister said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) failed to offer any proper or clear explanation for blocking the visit abroad, even as earlier engagements in Japan and South Korea had yielded strong investor interest for the state.
Emphasising that global outreach is central to creating employment opportunities and driving economic growth, Sanjeev Arora urged the Government of India to immediately reconsider its decision, asserting that while the move would harm Punjab’s economic prospects, the state government would not be deterred from working relentlessly for Punjab’s progress.
In a statement, Minister Sanjeev Arora said that the MEA of the Government of India (GOI) did not provide any proper or clear reason for rejecting the proposed official visit to the United Kingdom and Israel. “Firstly, we would like to know the exact reason for this rejection. If the decision has been taken for political reasons, then it is extremely condemnable and unfortunate,” he said.
Elaborating further, the Punjab Industry & Commerce and Investment Promotion Minister said that earlier official visits to Japan and South Korea were highly successful and generated significant investor interest in Punjab. “These investments are not only creating employment opportunities for the youth, but are also contributing to the overall economic growth of the country. The MEA’s decision will certainly prove detrimental to Punjab’s economic growth, but we will not be deterred and will continue working relentlessly for the progress of the state,” he said.
The Minister said that several foreign and Indian companies are keen to invest in Punjab and the state is fast emerging as their preferred destination. He said the Punjab Government is leaving no stone unturned to promote industry in the state. “Through global outreach, we are ensuring that Punjab’s youth get employment opportunities, paving the way for lasting economic prosperity. We urge the Government of India to reconsider the rejection of approval for our visit abroad,” he added.
Highlighting Punjab’s achievements, Minister Sanjeev Arora said the state has been awarded by the Government of India for being among the best states for ease of doing business and is also set to receive recognition for excellence in start-up initiatives. “Since 2022, Punjab has attracted investments worth more than ₹1.5 lakh crore and created employment opportunities for over 5.2 lakh people,” he said.
