Calling the refusal to clear an official investment outreach visit to the UK without assigning any reason “unfortunate and condemnable,” Punjab’s Industry and Commerce and Investment Promotion Minister Minister Sanjeev Arora said the Union Government’s decision had dealt a needless blow to Punjab’s efforts to attract global investment and generate jobs for its youth.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), GOI had recently denied political clearance to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Arora and two dozen officers, who had planned to visit the UK to invite investors. Arora said, “The MEA failed to offer any proper or clear explanation for blocking the visit abroad, even as earlier engagements in Japan and South Korea had yielded strong investor interest for the state.”
Emphasising that global outreach is central to creating employment opportunities and driving economic growth, Arora urged the Government of India to immediately reconsider its decision, asserting that while the move would harm Punjab’s economic prospects, the state government would not be deterred from working relentlessly for Punjab’s progress.
In a statement, Minister Sanjeev Arora said that the MEA of the Government of India (GOI) did not provide any proper or clear reason for rejecting the proposed official visit to the United Kingdom and Israel. “Firstly, we would like to know the exact reason for this rejection. If the decision has been taken for political reasons, then it is extremely condemnable and unfortunate,” he said.
He said that earlier official visits to Japan and South Korea were highly successful and generated significant investor interest in Punjab. “These investments are not only creating employment opportunities for the youth, but are also contributing to the overall economic growth of the country. The MEA’s decision will certainly prove detrimental to Punjab’s economic growth, but we will not be deterred and will continue working relentlessly for the progress of the state,” he said.
The Minister said that several foreign and Indian companies are keen to invest in Punjab and the state is fast emerging as their preferred destination. He said the Punjab Government is leaving no stone unturned to promote industry in the state.
