Chandigarh, Dec 10 ( LatestNewsX ) – Punjab’s chief minister, Bhagwant Singh Mann, said the enthusiastic response from investors during his recent trip to Japan and South Korea marks a pivotal moment for the state’s industrial future and cements Punjab’s reputation as a top‑choice destination for business investment.
Speaking to the media after his return, the chief minister highlighted how he positioned Punjab as a burgeoning global industrial hub. “The purpose of the tour was to secure more investments and give the state’s youth fresh employment prospects by accelerating industrial growth,” he remarked.
Mann believes this historic journey will provide the crucial push needed to set industrial development on a high‑growth track. He recalled a meeting with Ogawa Kazunori, Senior Managing Director at the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), where the bank expressed keen interest in reviewing Punjab’s industrial and clean‑energy proposals. The two parties agreed to keep technical discussions open and consider financing options through the Japanese institution. JBIC also welcomed the invitation to the investor summit and spoke of future collaboration.
During the same visit, he met with Tomonori Kai and Toru Nakane, the CEO and EVP of Aisan Industry Co. Ltd. They showed interest in evaluating Punjab for future manufacturing or R&D projects. Likewise, Tanaka Hiroki and Suzuki Mari from Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd’s Global Strategy and Product Planning teams welcomed the possibility of exploring electric‑vehicle mobility, R&D partnership, and skill‑development initiatives.
The chief minister welcomed the 2026 summit invitation and expressed a desire to remain engaged within Punjab’s investment facilitation ecosystem. In a meeting with Honda Motor Co. Ltd’s Department Manager Tatsuya Nakamura and ITO Kiyoshi, they discussed setting up component manufacturing through Indian partners in Punjab. Mann assured full policy backing and invited the company to PPIS 2026.
Director General Yamada Tetsuya of JICA’s South Asia Department reaffirmed support for Punjab’s development through technical cooperation and capacity‑building, especially in diversifying crops. Discussions touched on urban infrastructure, water management, and skill development, and JICA expressed a willingness to deepen engagement and develop partnership projects. Simultaneously, Hajime Ishii, Senior Vice President of Toray Industries, showed interest in technical textiles and composites for the state’s auto and aerospace sectors.
Komori Takuo, Parliamentary Vice‑Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, agreed to continue coordinating Japanese firms with Invest Punjab. Jungo Okai, Head of Technology Business Management at Fujitsu Ltd, expressed interest in digital governance solutions and hinted at exploring Mohali for future projects.
The second day began with a meeting at NEC Corporation. Director Makoto Noda and Manager Miho Hara showed enthusiasm for digital initiatives and industrial automation, and the company pledged to evaluate the IT ecosystem for potential collaboration.
A non‑binding Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Toppan and Invest Punjab to jointly create a Skilling Excellence Centre that reflects industry needs. In a session with the Indian diaspora and local stakeholders, the focus turned to strengthening ties with the diaspora to build long‑term partnerships and encourage diaspora‑led investment in sectors such as manufacturing, technology, and services.
On day three, a meeting at Aichi Steel’s headquarters saw Chairman Fujioka Takahiro and President Ito Toshio welcome the summit invitation and express interest in deeper engagement and expanded investment.
Meanwhile, during a session with the Seoul Business Agency, participants noted a strong complementarity between Seoul’s tech strengths and Punjab’s budding IT, electronics, and startup scene. A visit to Korea National Sports University revealed keen interest in MoUs for sports‑specific training and academic exchange, with an invitation extended for the university to tour Jalandhar, Punjab’s sports hub.
The tourism roadshow in Seoul was well received, attracting more than ten representatives from tour operators who expressed eagerness to tap into Punjab’s tourism potential. In a meeting with Sunjin, the company announced plans to expand animal‑feed capacity in Punjab and to set up poultry and dairy ventures.
The chief minister noted that while Japan and South Korea bring cutting‑edge technology, Punjab offers the most innovative and hardworking talent. He envisions the forthcoming investor summit as a platform where technology and talent will harmonise to drive progress.
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