CHANDIGARH: In the last four years, the Punjab Government has attracted investment proposals worth more than Rs 1,55,000 crore since March 2022, creating employment opportunities for over 5,44,000 youth. This comes as the three-day Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2026 begins on Thursday, with participation from the United Kingdom, Japan, and South Korea.
Punjab Industries and Commerce, Investment Promotion, Power, and Local Government Minister Sanjeev Arora announced that the summit will be held from 13 to 15 March at Plaksha University in SAS Nagar (Mohali), positioning Punjab as a major destination for investment and innovation.
Speaking to the media, Arora said the summit will bring together investors, industry leaders, and policymakers from India and across the world to explore the state’s vast economic opportunities. “The summit will serve as a major platform to showcase Punjab’s investment potential to both domestic and international investors. With 89 sessions planned, it will be one of the most extensive investment events ever organized in Punjab,” he said.
Arora added, “Since March 2022, the Punjab Government has attracted investment proposals worth more than Rs 1,55,000 crore, creating employment opportunities for over 5,44,000 youth.
“There will be country-focused sessions for the United Kingdom, Japan, and South Korea, along with a dedicated MSME session. Special discussions will also highlight Mohali’s emerging role as an IT hub, Artificial Intelligence, and various industrial sectors, alongside meetings of sectoral industry committees.”
He further stated, “An industrial exhibition will also be organized during the summit, showcasing products and innovations from Punjab’s industries, highlighting the state’s manufacturing strength and entrepreneurial spirit. Delegates and investors from across the globe are arriving to participate in the summit. While some participants from the Middle East could not travel due to flight disruptions, the majority of international investors are expected to attend.”
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted that the state is witnessing a decisive turnaround in its industrial fortunes, with global investors returning after years of extortion and arm-twisting that had driven industry away before 2022.
Speaking after performing the groundbreaking ceremony of Infosys’ Rs 286 crore campus in Mohali, Mann stated that the project alone will generate direct employment for 2,700 youth and thousands of indirect jobs. “The upcoming Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit from March 13 to 15 in Mohali will mark a defining moment for the state’s industrial resurgence, with the next three days set to script a new success story for Punjab’s economic growth.”
He added, “Today is a red-letter day as the groundbreaking ceremony of Infosys’ new project worth Rs 286 crore is being held in Mohali. This project will provide direct employment to 2,700 youth while generating thousands of indirect employment opportunities. In the first phase, an Integrated Campus will be established, including a Software Development Block, Food Court, and other facilities. The campus will have a built-up area of 3,50,000 square feet with a seating capacity of 3,000 people. The Punjab Government will extend full support and cooperation to Infosys for this project, encouraging more companies to invest in Punjab and create greater employment opportunities for our youth.”
Mann also shared, “On March 20, the country’s second-largest Tata Steel project, worth Rs 3,200 crore, will be inaugurated in Ludhiana. This ambitious project will provide employment to 2,500 youth and accelerate the economic growth of Punjab.”
He said, “The Punjab Industrial and Business Development Policy 2026 will offer major incentives to investors, create employment opportunities for youth, empower women, and support entrepreneurs in starting new businesses.”