The Punjab local government minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Thursday said the single window clearance mechanism being provided by the state government will encourage the investment particularly in sectors like services, manufacturing, small scale industries, defence and tourism. This investment will also create jobs for the youths of Punjab.

Sidhu was speaking at an The Associated Chambers of Commerce of India (ASSOCHAM) event held in Chandigarh where he said the state government is committed to provide the jobs to every family and therefore in another five years’ time the state government will fulfill its commitment.

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Sidhu also batted for streamlining it so as to facilitate the setting up of industrial infrastructure and mentioned Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka where various incentives and facilities to accelerate industrial growth have been provided.

Sidhu claimed that the ASSOCHAM will be a transformer for the state of Punjab. He also highlighted that Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was focusing on tourism and manufacturing generators of employment.

Laying the foundation stone for ASSOCHAM Regional Headquarters at Mohali, the local government minister said a single window clearance system needs self-assessment. He said the Punjab needs to be more attractive to investors and provide ease of doing business. Once the ease of doing business happens, automatically the achievement will come, said Sidhu.

He further said that the government ready to facilitate ASSOCHAM and anyone who wants to invest in Punjab. We must use land banks as equity for public private partnerships (PPP).

He said, the Punjab government is come out with brand new industrial policy which actually has to facilitate people.

President ASSOCHAM, Sandeep Jajodia, said, “We believe that Punjab not only hosts vibrant Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) clusters for textile and garments, bicycle parts, sports and engineering products, but is also a nursery of entrepreneurs, reflecting a true Punjabi spirit.

Jajodia further said that we believe in developing a synergy between the private sector and state, particularly in the areas of technical education and skill development. We are looking forward to developing and strengthening partnerships with the state government for technical institutes, he added.

He also said that Industry in Punjab finding it difficult to compete due to tax concessions in neighboring states. The industrial unit in Punjab disadvantaged due to lack of easy access of cheap raw materials.