September, 2026 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today called for greater collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to promote sustainable management of crop residues, strengthen the horticulture sector through knowledge and technology exchange, and skill the state’s youth to take industrial development to new heights.
During a meeting with a CII delegation, the Chief Minister emphasised the judicious use of resources, tackling climate change and adopting clean technologies to benefit farmers. Discussions also focused on new skill development and technology-driven initiatives, including those launched in the Malwa region, particularly Sangrur and Barnala, the proposed Multi-Skill Training Institute in Ludhiana, and the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Technical Textiles with a state-of-the-art laboratory in Jalandhar.
Sharing details of the meeting on his X account, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Today, I had an important meeting with the Chairman of the CII Northern Region in Chandigarh. During the meeting, we held extensive discussions on industrial development in Punjab, attracting new investments and creating maximum employment opportunities for the youth. Our government is continuously working to make Punjab a leading industrial hub of the country and create a business-friendly environment. We are fully committed to strengthening Punjab’s economy.”
Chairing the meeting with the CII delegation, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “It is extremely important for the Punjab Government and CII to work together to prevent environmental pollution. Our focus should be on sustainability, judicious use of resources, tackling climate change and clean technology. This will benefit farmers on the one hand and help make Punjab cleaner, greener and pollution-free on the other.”
The Chief Minister urged CII to intensify efforts for crop residue management in the Malwa region, particularly Sangrur and Barnala, where the Parmal variety of paddy is cultivated, as well as in other parts of Punjab.
He said, “Punjab is committed to adopting sustainable and technology-based solutions for crop residue management. The government, industry and other stakeholders need to work together to provide farmers with practical, affordable and effective solutions, enabling the state to move firmly towards a cleaner and healthier future.”
The Chief Minister assured CII of full cooperation in facilitating the visit of the ‘World Horticulture Centre’ to India during CII Agro Tech India 2026. He said, “Punjab will benefit greatly from such visits through the exchange of knowledge and expertise in both the agricultural and industrial sectors.”
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann laid special emphasis on knowledge exchange and technology collaboration to strengthen Punjab’s horticulture sector and benefit farmers across the state. He also stressed the need to strengthen industrial and urban infrastructure at key locations to improve the ease of doing business and enhance the quality of life.
The Chief Minister said modern and well-planned infrastructure is essential for improving the ease of doing business, reducing costs and attracting investment to the state. He said, “The Punjab Government is committed to ensuring reliable and quality power supply to industrial areas, while also addressing critical infrastructure bottlenecks that affect industrial activity.”
Bhagwant Singh Mann assured CII of full support for establishing the proposed Multi-Skill Training Institute (MSTI) in Ludhiana, saying that such an initiative is an important need of the hour.
The Chief Minister said, “The proposed Multi-Skill Training Institute will help create a skilled workforce in Punjab to meet the requirements of local industries while opening new avenues of employment for the youth. Promoting skill development in line with the requirements of the industrial sector is extremely important for strengthening Punjab’s economic growth.”
The Chief Minister further urged CII to explore the possibility of establishing a Centre of Excellence for Technical Textiles in Punjab, equipped with a state-of-the-art laboratory, in Jalandhar. He also stressed the need to establish specialised skill centres for defence manufacturing industries to provide trained human resources and further accelerate economic activity in the state.
The meeting focused on further strengthening government-industry collaboration in agriculture, crop residue management, horticulture, infrastructure, skill development and emerging industrial sectors. The shared objective was to promote sustainable development and create maximum employment opportunities for the youth of Punjab.
