* Haley announces to lend support support & cooperation to Punjab in education, skill development
training, livestock and food processing industries
* India and south carolina have lot in common : Haley
* Cm Badal describes Nikki as the daughter of Punjab
Chandigarh, Governor of South Carolina in US Mrs. Nikki Haley today announced to forge collaboration in the varied fields of Education, Skill Development Training, Livestock and Food Processing industries besides Cultural Exchange with the Punjab Government to further boost the bi-lateral socio-economic ties between the both the states.
This announcement was made by Mrs. Haley while presiding over the Cultural program organized in her honor by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal here at his residence this evening.
In her address, the Governor of South Carolina assured Mr. Badal that she would certainly get the proposals put forth by him regarding the setting up of University and other higher educational institutions of Excellence in the field of Engineering, medical, social sciences and skill development training in the upcoming Edu city in New Chandigarh thoroughly examined by her government for their implementation in letter and spirit.
Mrs Haley mentioned the Punjabis had always shared cordial ties with US especially in South Carolina besides contributing enormously in its overall development and prosperity adding she said, “India and South Carolina have a lot in common so we will like to see more Indian and Punjabi businesses in our state”
Striking an emotional chord with the land of Punjab, Mrs. Haley said that her Sikh parents had migrated to the US in the 1960s, where she was born. The Governor said that since she had Punjabi origin and was emotionally attached with this region and was passionate to contribute immensely in its socio-economic development by joining hands in various sectors of mutual interest with Punjab government. Mrs. Haley reiterated that she was committed to connect two homes South Carolina and Punjab being the Punjabi daughter. She also invited a delegation of eminent industrialists, educationists, academicians and prospective entrepreneurs from Punjab to visit South Carolina for making investment there also and assured all support for this.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief Minister described Mrs. Haley as the Daughter of Punjab and her husband Mr. Michel Haley as the son-in-law of Punjab. He envisaged technical support and cooperation from Mrs. Haley for the development of our agriculture and allied farming sector especially the livestock. The Chief Minister said that Mrs. Haley had made every Punjabi proud by becoming the youngest Governor of South Carolina in US and now we all wished and pray to almighty that she should soon become the President of USA. He impressed upon the visiting Governor to set up their ventures in the upcoming Medi City and Edu City at New Chandigarh where there was a huge scope of mutual collaboration.
The Chief Minister thanked Mrs. Haley for taking personal initiative to forge collaboration in different fields of mutual interest especially in the various fields especially food processing as this would further give impetus to the state government’s efforts to its ambitions program of agriculture diversification.
Earlier, the Chief Minister felicitated the members of the delegation with memento and a shawl as token of love and affection on behalf of Punjabis.
On the occasion, Advisor to Chief Minister on Media and National Affairs Mr. Harcharan Bains said the visit of Mrs. Haley in Punjab would go a long way in further strengthening the Indo-US ties particularly between South Carolina and Punjab while conducting proceedings of the function.
Eminent Punjabi folk singer Mrs. Sukhi Brar through her melodious songs besides the performance of scintillating Gidha, Jago and Bhangra regaled the foreign guests and local audience.
Prominent amongst other who were present on the occasion included Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Mr. Charanjit Singh Atwal, Member Rajya Sabha Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Cabinet Ministers Mr. Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Mr. Sohan Singh Thandal, Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike, Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra, Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Mr. Surjit Kumar Jiyani besides Chief Secretary Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal, Principal Secretary Finance Mrs. Vinni Mahajan, Financial Commissioner Revenue Mr. Karan Avtar Singh Special Principal Secretary to CM Mr. KJS Cheema, Secretary Local Government Mr. Ashok Gupta, Principal Secretary Jails Mr. Sanjay Kumar and Secretary Housing and Urban Development Mr. A Venu Prasad.