Visibly elated the turnout at the summit, Chief Minister Badal's government announced huge concessions to the industry. (Press Trust of India photo)
Shaking off weeks of unrest and opposition attacks, the Punjab government today announced more than 350 new deals and investments worth Rs 1.12 lakh crores as industry leaders lined up for the state's second investment summit in Mohali today.
Battling outrage over the incidents of desecration of the Sikh Holy Book and the cotton farmers' protests, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today appeared buoyant at the praises heaped upon by the state by the industrialists.
"From my point of view, the Punjabi has a big heart and that's what drives investment in Punjab. My father Dhirubhai always used to say I am a Punjabi Gujarati that means as a Gujarati I still have a big heart," Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani said.
Bajaj Group chief Rahul Bajaj said, "Vibrant Gujarat itself was a very prominent one. Today the same Chief Minister [Narendra Modi] is our Prime Minister. So it is natural for others to emulate him. Point is the competition among states which is very good."
Visibly elated the turnout at the summit, Chief Minister Badal's government announced huge concessions to the industry including cheap power at Rs 4.99 per unit and slashed taxes on food processing industry.
"Punjab has just 2 per cent of land in the country but it produces 60 per cent of the foodgrains. We should keep growing wheat and rice I want to make Punjab a tax free hub of food processing industry," Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal.