Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Pitches Big Investment Opportunities at Osaka Roadshow

He stressed the state's connectivity to NCR and major ports, reliable power supply, and well-developed industrial clusters as major advantages. File Photo.

During his Japan visit, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led a high-profile business roadshow in Osaka. During the show he presented his state as an attractive destination for Japanese and global investors. He led Japanese companies to attend the event and expressed interest in exploring industrial, trade and SME opportunities in Punjab.

He addressed the gathering and emphasised the strength of Indo-Japan economic ties and highlighted that Punjab is a mixture of strong industrial potential, strategic location, modern infrastructure, and a skilled workforce. He stressed the state’s connectivity to NCR and major ports, reliable power supply, and well-developed industrial clusters as major advantages.

Mann also talked about recent regulatory reforms undertaken by the government, particularly the unified “FastTrack Punjab” single-window system, which offers over 170 G2B (government-to-business) services, along with auto-deemed approvals and PAN-based business identifiers. Amendments to the state’s Right to Business Act allow time-bound in-principle approvals which are intended towards streamlining the process for new investors.

Mann applauded the progress and said that more than INR 1.4 lakh crore worth of on-the-ground investments have already been facilitated under his government’s outreach initiative. He explained that the state’s 2022 New Industrial Policy, which was developed with input from industry stakeholders, works as a guide for new investment promotion efforts. As part of this, 24 sector-specific committees have been constituted, each led by industry captains, to fine-tune policies for different segments.

Mann also held meetings with representatives of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OCCI) and companies such as Tokushima Auction Market and Global Venture Co Ltd to explore possibilities for collaborative work in domains such as agriculture modernisation, trade, supply-chain partnerships and SME development.

Mann further said that the level of interest shown by Japanese firms reflects growing global confidence in Punjab’s investment climate. He reiterated his government’s vision to make Punjab a “globally preferred destination for industry” and promised stable policies, swift decision-making and public-private partnerships.

Japanese steelmaker Aichi Steel, which is globally known as the steel arm of Toyota, also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ludhiana-based Vardhman Special Steels to expand its operations in Punjab and committed to a potential INR 500 crore investment. The agreement was signed in the presence of CM Mann.

Mann commented on the MoU and described it as a “red-letter day” for Punjab. He further added the collaboration could increase industrial growth, especially in auto-grade and speciality steel manufacturing. He extended a formal invitation to Aichi Steel’s leadership to attend the upcoming Progressive Punjab Investors' Summit, which is scheduled from March 13 to 15, 2026, at the Indian School of Business (Mohali).

Mann’s roadshow appears to have significantly boosted Punjab’s investment narrative on the global stage with fresh momentum from Japan and plans to build on recent successes, potentially paving the way for further foreign collaborations and industrial growth.

Source: Times of India