Post-COVID-19, companies looking to shift to Punjab from China: CM Capt Amarinder Singh

The Punjab government is hoping that the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic will prove to be a blessing to the industrial sector and to the unemployed as several companies are likely to shift to India from China.

Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh on Friday assured the industry of his government’s full support to ensure 100 per cent operationalisation over the next few days and pointed to the huge opportunity they had to grow in view of the increasing number of companies looking to shift from China.

The state government was already in touch with several countries to invite them to invest and set up industrial units in Punjab, said Capt Amarinder Singh, adding that he was confident that the state would be able to attract a lot of industry from China.

Promising to take their suggestions into account to facilitate the revival of the state’s economy post COVID-19 lockdown, the Chief Minister underscored the role being played by industry in the development of Punjab, and their continued efforts to restore normal business in these difficult circumstances.

Interacting with industry stalwarts at a video conference on “Action plan to revive Punjab economy post COVID-19 lockdown”, the Punjab Chief Minister thanked them for taking on the difficult challenge of resuming operations in the midst of the pandemic, and despite the difficulties caused by various curbs in place to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.

With 78 per cent industry already having resumed operations, and 68 percent of the migrant labour choosing to stay back in the state, the Chief Minister directed the Industry Department to expedite the process of providing clearances and ensuring further ease of business to put the industry back on track at the earliest amid the easing of restrictions amid the continued lockdown.

Exuding confidence of early resumption of the remaining industry over the next few days, the Chief Minister disclosed that no train had left with migrant labour from the state on Friday, which was a good sign and indicative of the fact that the workers were satisfied with the arrangements made for their care during the curfew/lockdown.

The leading industry stalwarts suggested various short term measures and urgent interventions to support the economic revival of the state. Representatives from a wide spectrum of sectors, including Manufacturing, IT, Start-ups, Agriculture, Healthcare and Pharma, Education Skill Development, Media, Real Estate and Tourism came out with general and sector-specific recommendations to put industrial growth in Punjab back on track.

Meanwhile, tightening the noose around the violators of COVID-19 guidelines, the Punjab government has enhanced the penalty charges. The state’s health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, in a press note, stated that Rs. 500 penalty will be imposed for not wearing a mask in public places, Rs. 2,000 for violating the home quarantine instructions, Rs. 500 for spitting in public places and violating social distancing norms by owners of shops/commercial places: Rs 2000 for violating social distancing by owner of buses: Rs 3000 for car owners, Rs. 2000 for auto rickshaws and Rs 500 for two-wheelers.

Sidhu said that the decision has been taken to strengthen the management and control the spread of the deadly virus.