Punjab CM Advocates Strategic Partnership with Japan Across Key Sectors

Chandigarh, Nov 2025 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today advocated strategic partnerships with Japan in key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, mobility, electronics, food processing, renewable energy, and global services.

The Chief Minister held virtual deliberations with a high-level Japanese delegation, along with Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora. The delegation included the Japanese Embassy, JETRO, JCCII, and more than 25 leading Japanese companies operating across India such as Panasonic, Sumitomo, Nippon, NEC, Toyota, among others. These discussions were an important part of Punjab’s international outreach ahead of the 6th Progressive Punjab Investor Summit to be held from 13 to 15 March 2026 at the Indian School of Business (ISB), Mohali. Invest Punjab showcased the unique Invest Punjab Unified Regulatory Model, integrating multiple departments under a single authority along with the state’s economic sector.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab is a land known for courage, resilience, hard work, entrepreneurship, creativity, and community partnership. He stated that Punjab has always played a key role in India’s development, particularly in making the country self-reliant in food production. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that today Punjab is moving forward with a new vision to become a leading hub in modern industry, technology, and global collaboration.

In his keynote address, the Chief Minister emphasized Punjab’s strong and growing relations with Japanese industry and extended a warm invitation to Japanese companies to be part of the next phase of industrial transformation in Punjab. He said Punjab and Japan share values of trust, discipline, and long-term partnership, which are crucial for the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann highlighted that Japanese companies already have a strong foothold in Punjab.

The Chief Minister said the state government aims to create new opportunities for youth while ensuring a stable and reliable environment for investors. He noted that Punjab’s partnership with Japanese industry is already strong and expanding into new directions. Many renowned Japanese companies have demonstrated their confidence in Punjab. He highlighted that Mazda, Sumitomo, SML Isuzu, Yanmar, Aichi Steel, and Gunma Seiko have already established their presence in Punjab’s automotive and manufacturing sectors.

He added that Topan and OG Holdings have gained strong footing in packaging and industrial products, while Kansai Nerolac and Nissan Chemical have successfully advanced in chemicals and paints. In agriculture and machinery, Yanmar Agricultural Machinery and Class India have shown their confidence in Punjab. In retail and consumer products, Uniqlo has brought Japanese quality to the people. In renewable energy, Mitsui & Co. contributes to Punjab’s green vision, reflecting Japanese investors’ trust in the state’s commitment to sustainability, skill, and development.

The Chief Minister said that to further strengthen this partnership, the Punjab government is highlighting industrial capacities, exploring new areas of cooperation, and deepening long-term collaboration with Japanese industry. He noted that Punjab is now among India’s most business-friendly states, and the Government of India ranked Punjab first in the 2024 Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP), demonstrating the state’s ease of doing business, transparency, and accountable governance.

He stated that the Punjab government’s approach is simple and clear—policy stability, fast decision-making, and a governance system that respects investors’ time and trust, making Punjab a preferred destination for global industry. This approach is based on working collaboratively with industries, understanding their needs, and ensuring the government plays a key role in accelerating growth. The Chief Minister highlighted efforts to strengthen infrastructure and expand industrial capacity, opening new avenues for investment.

Inviting Japanese companies to explore emerging opportunities in the state, he said Punjab’s future focuses on advanced manufacturing, mobility, electronics, food processing, renewable energy, and global services. These are key sectors where Japan’s capabilities and Punjab’s potential naturally align. He invited investors to participate in the 6th Progressive Punjab Investor Summit, which will showcase Punjab’s progress, bring major industrial leaders together, and present new opportunities for partnerships and collaboration.

The Chief Minister stated that Punjab and Japan share values of trust, quality, and long-term commitment, and the state government is fully committed to deepening this relationship. He emphasized that the government is determined to create a prosperous future through strong economic and cultural ties, thanking investors for their continued support and cooperation.

During the event, Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora highlighted that the FastTrack Punjab digital platform now delivers over 200 business services with guaranteed approvals within 45 working days, including legally auto-deemed approvals. He emphasized reforms in industry, commerce, investment promotion, power, and diaspora affairs to ensure world-class facilities for investors. He noted that Punjab has attracted industrial investments exceeding ₹1.39 lakh crore, creating 5.09 lakh jobs, and the government is further strengthening power infrastructure with an investment of ₹5,000 crore to meet future industrial and renewable energy needs.

Japanese and Indo-Japanese industrialists, including senior representatives of Yanmar Holdings and TTC Group, shared their experience working in Punjab, highlighting the quality of human capital, supportive policy environment, and seamless facilities provided by Invest Punjab. JETRO and Embassy officials appreciated Punjab’s proactive outreach and discussed potential sector-specific partnerships in manufacturing, logistics, renewable energy, digital transformation, and agri-tech.