New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that the state offered opportunities across the entire textile value chain and provided a transparent, industry-friendly ecosystem for entrepreneurs.

Inaugurating the Punjab State Pavilion and addressing the Punjab Session at BharatTex 2026 here, the Chief Minister said the government has introduced a new Industrial and Business Development Policy to boost investment, employment and exports, while ensuring time-bound approvals through the single window and “single pen’ systems.

Highlighting that Punjab has attracted Rs 2 lakh crore of investment and generated five lakh employment opportunities in the past four years, CM Mann said the government “treats entrepreneurs as partners in the state’s growth, has ended bureaucratic harassment through the Red Card system, and is committed to making Punjab the country’s preferred destination for advanced textile manufacturing and industrial investment”.

“Industrialists were earlier treated as ATMs by the successive state governments, but the AAP government has made them an equal partner in the socio-economic progress of the state. Punjabis have been blessed with an indomitable spirit of hard work, dedication and patriotism. Due to these qualities, Punjabis have proved their mettle in every sphere. The sole aim of recalling these things is to keep our younger generations abreast with the glorious and rich cultural and historic legacy of the state,” the Chief Minister said.

Reiterating that industrial development can be achieved only through close cooperation between the government and industry, CM Mann said, “I firmly believe that the industrial sector can progress only when the government and industry work shoulder to shoulder. Therefore, investors and entrepreneurs are among the key architects of Punjab’s industrial future. Punjab’s robust investment ecosystem offers reasonable power tariffs, land facilities and a welcoming environment for investors.”

Welcoming delegates to the session, the Chief Minister said, “BharatTex is not merely an exhibition of products but a platform where India’s textile future is being imagined, partnerships are being forged, and new opportunities are taking shape.”

“Punjab is participating as a partner state because textiles are not merely an industry for the state, but they are a part of the identity, heritage and economic strength of the state. For generations, Punjab has woven not just fabrics, but livelihoods, entrepreneurship and prosperity,” said the Chief Minister.

–IANS

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