Chandigarh, August 8, 2025 — In a move aimed at positioning Punjab as a leading industrial hub, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday unveiled 24 sector-specific Industrial Advisory Committees. The initiative, hailed as a landmark reform, is designed to shift the state’s industrial policy framework from a purely government-driven approach to one where industry stakeholders have a decisive role in shaping decisions.
Calling the development a “historic day for Punjab,” Kejriwal said that for decades, industrial growth was hampered by political corruption, bureaucratic red tape, and extortion, which drove businesses away and compounded the state’s economic challenges. He credited post-2022 reforms for reversing this trend.
The Fast Track Punjab Portal touted as India’s most advanced single-window clearance platform now offers over 150 online services. Under the Punjab Right to Business Act, investment proposals worth up to ₹125 crore receive in-principle approval within three days. Additional measures, including color-coded stamp papers, a 45-day maximum approval timeline, and a Deemed Approval mechanism, have been introduced to improve ease of doing business.
The newly formed committees comprising a chairperson, a member secretary, and representation from large industries, MSMEs, and regional sector bodies will research global best practices and recommend strategies for the upcoming New Industrial Policy. According to Kejriwal, the government has committed to implementing 99% of committee recommendations to ensure real-world impact.
CM Mann explained that the concept originated from the Sarkar-Sannatkar Milnis held in September 2023, where direct engagement between the government and industrialists underscored the need for structured collaboration. Punjab is already excelling in food processing, textiles, auto components, hand tools, bicycles, IT, and tourism, with investment proposals worth ₹1.14 lakh crore received since March 2022 expected to create over 4.5 lakh jobs.
Mann noted increasing interest from investors in Japan, USA, Germany, UK, Dubai, South Korea, Singapore, and Spain, attributing this to industry-friendly policies, zero tolerance for corruption, and the adoption of technology-driven investor support through WhatsApp, AI chatbots, and call centers.
He reiterated his government’s commitment to social reform alongside economic growth, vowing to strengthen the anti-drug campaign ‘Yudh Nasheyan De Virudh’ while maintaining clean and transparent governance. “We are building a Punjab that is globally competitive, socially resilient, and economically vibrant,” he said.
