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Chandigarh, October 14- Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today sought fulsome support and cooperation from the US ambassador Mr. Richard Verma in the field of education, healthcare, agriculture & food processing, solar energy and skill development thereby further strengthening the socio-economic ties between Punjab and US.
These views were expressed by the Chief Minister during a meeting with Mr. Verma, who called on him at his residence this evening.
The Chief Minister apprised Mr. Verma that there was huge potential of expansion in these sectors as the state government has focussed to develop these key areas on the top priority. He, however, said that US has proven technology and expertise in these vital sectors where Punjab could be immensely benefitted. Moreover, Mr. Badal said that Punjab has been rated number one by the World Bank for ease of doing business here, in one of its recent reports.
Apart from this, the Chief Minister said that the state government has taken several investors friendly initiatives like Invest Punjab manned by a single person for ensuring prompt clearances to the interested entrepreneurs. He also sought US envoy’s cooperation and support to send a high powered delegation of leading US industrialists , entrepreneurs and business heads to attend Investors Summit slated to be held at SAS Nagar (Mohali) on October 28-29. Mr. Badal informed him that the upcoming Medicity and Educity were swiftly emerging as medical and education hubs to provide the world class healthcare services and the state-of-the-art education facilities to the student right from kinder garden to university level to enable them to compete globally. He impressed upon Mr. Verma to motivate the US based leading entrepreneurs, industrialists and businessmen to make huge investments in the state.
Dwelling on the agrarian economy of the state, the Chief Minister envisaged Mr. Verma’s support in pursuing their agriculture diversification program through making lucrative investments in the agro and food processing industry to give further impetus to the farming sector.
Striking a positive note, Mr. Verma assured the Chief Minister that he would certainly motivate the key players in the fields of education, healthcare, agriculture & food processing, solar energy and skill development to make investments in Punjab. He highly appreciated the concerted efforts of the state government under the leadership of the Chief Minister to open Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Academy for Boys & Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Academy for girls to ensure their placement in the Defence services besides setting up first of its kind Meritorious Schools for poor but bright students to enable them to compete with their convent/ public educated peers. Mr. Verma also lauded the stellar performance of the state government in making Punjab the only power surplus state in the country besides having an excellent network of road and air connectivity.
Mr. Verma also told the Chief Minister that he would soon take up the issue of opening of US consulates in Jalandhar and Chandigarh for the convenience of people of the region in general and especially in Punjab as the majority of Punjabi Diaspora was settled abroad across the globe especially in US and Canada.
Earlier, the Chief Minister welcomed Mr. Verma saying it was a momentous occasion to receive a US Ambassador having roots in Punjab, as the latter belonged to village Apra in Jalandhar district where his father has still an ancestral house besides his mother hailing from Jalandhar. Mr. Badal assured the envoy that state government would love to do anything for the development of his ancestral village as per the wishes and aspirations of the people.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Special Principal Secretary Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar. Second Secretary (Political) Ms. Sandhya Dass, Second Secretary (Public Affairs) Ms. Emily White and Senior Advisor US embassy Mr. A.Sukesh were also present on the occasion.
