SAS Nagar: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday announced that the state government will establish three world-class exhibition centres in Ludhiana, New Chandigarh (Mohali) and Amritsar to boost industrial growth and commercial activity in Punjab.
Addressing industrialists during sessions of the Progressive Punjab Investment Summit, the Chief Minister said Punjab currently lacks large exhibition spaces where industries can showcase their products. He said the proposed centres will be developed on the lines of Pragati Maidan in New Delhi and will provide a strong platform for businesses to display their goods and expand trade opportunities.
Mann said the summit has evolved into a powerful platform where investors are actively sharing ideas and exploring new business opportunities. He noted that all sessions during the summit witnessed strong participation, reflecting growing confidence among the industry in Punjab’s economic potential.
Emphasising the need to strengthen Punjab’s export-driven economy, the Chief Minister said the state is gradually moving beyond traditional agricultural exports towards value-added products. He said the government aims to transform Punjab into a major export hub while preparing the state’s economy for the next 50 years with a strong focus on industry, exports and renewable energy.
Highlighting Punjab’s contribution to national food security, Mann said the state produces around 185 lakh metric tonnes of rice and 125 lakh metric tonnes of wheat annually, reinforcing its reputation as the food bowl of India. However, he stressed that the future of Punjab’s agriculture lies in value addition and food processing.
The Chief Minister pointed out that regions such as Pathankot, Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar have strong potential for food processing due to crops like litchi, mango and potato. He said value addition through food processing can significantly increase farmers’ income while strengthening the agricultural economy.
Mann reiterated the need to diversify agriculture and reduce dependence on the wheat–paddy cycle. He said farmers are willing to shift to alternative crops if economically viable options are available. Food processing, he added, can create sustainable demand for crops such as maize and vegetables while also benefiting groundwater conservation.
Citing an example of successful agro-industry linkage, Mann referred to the Kisan Ketchup plant at Nabha, where tomatoes initially sourced from outside the state are now largely procured from Punjab farmers after they adopted suitable crop varieties.
He said the state government’s Industrial and Business Development Policy 2026 offers strong incentives for investors, including enhanced subsidies for food processing industries. Mann also highlighted that Invest Punjab functions as a single-window facilitation agency to assist industries with approvals and project implementation.
The Chief Minister noted that Punjab currently exports goods worth over USD 7 billion and has more than 14 lakh MSMEs contributing to employment and industrial growth. He also emphasised the state’s push towards renewable energy, including biomass and compressed biogas projects that can convert paddy straw into a valuable energy resource. 
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