“Invest Punjab” – India China Business Forum was organized today in Shanghai at the Hotel Renaissance Yangtze.

2. A 12 member delegation from Punjab led by Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) Shri Sukhbir Singh Badal (DCM) participated. The event was jointly organized by Consulate General of India, Shanghai along with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Representative Office in Shanghai and was attended by nearly 110 Chinese companies with investment plans for India.

3. The prime focus of the Business Forum was to introduce the investment opportunities in Punjab to potential Chinese investors, particularly in sectors like Automobiles, Textiles, E-Bikes/Bicycles, Renewable Energy, Urban Transportation and Smart City Projects.

4. Delivering the Key Note Address, DCM Punjab made an emphatic appeal to all Chinese investors to take opportunity of the friendly business environment in Punjab and set up units in the state.  DCM Punjab emphasized that at “Invest Punjab”, they were offering the unique facility of clearing each investment proposals on-line within a fixed period of 30 days.  He also added that for facilitating Chinese investors, Punjab Government had designated Mr. D  K Tiwari, CEO of Invest Punjab as the nodal person to do overall coordination.

5. In addition to DCM Punjab, Additional Chief Secretary Shri Karan Avtar Singh gave a detailed presentation on the investment rules and regulations in Punjab, which was followed by a separate presentation by the President of Federation of Indian Exporters Organization (FIEO).  In a highly interactive Q&A Session, DCM Punjab answered the queries of several Chinese companies, which ranged from preferential policies to land/electricity rates etc.

6. Invest Punjab Forum was followed by a session of B2B meetings over working lunch.  Separately, four Chinese companies with project proposals for investing in Punjab separately called on DCM Punjab to apprise him about their investment plans in Punjab.

7. It may be noted the Punjab has in the past had several exchanges with business delegations from Eastern China. There is also strong desire from Jiangsu Province in Eastern China to establish sister province relations with Punjab. Jiangsu Fisheries Bureau has an existing MoU for cooperation with Punjab Fisheries Department, which is already under implementation.

*******

Shanghai

11 May 2016