Punjab Industries Minister Condemns Centre's Block on UK Investment Mission
Punjab Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora strongly criticized the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday. He called their refusal to clear Punjab's investment outreach to the United Kingdom unfortunate and condemnable.
Minister Demands Immediate Reconsideration
Arora urged the Central government to reconsider its decision immediately. He asserted this blockage would harm Punjab's economic prospects significantly. The minister expressed frustration over the lack of proper explanation from the MEA.
The proposed visit involved Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann leading a delegation to the UK and Israel in February. This one-week investment outreach mission aimed to attract global business leaders ahead of the 6th Progressive Punjab Investors' Summit scheduled for March 13-15 in Mohali.
Political Clearance Denied Without Clear Reasons
The Ministry of External Affairs did not grant political clearance for this important tour. Arora highlighted that earlier investment engagements in Japan and South Korea yielded strong investor interest for Punjab. He questioned why this UK mission faced rejection.
"The Centre's decision dealt a needless blow to Punjab's efforts to attract global investment and generate jobs for its youth," Arora stated firmly.
Seeking Explanations and Moving Forward
The minister demanded to know the exact reason for this rejection. He emphasized that if political motives drove the decision, it would be extremely condemnable. Arora pointed to the success of previous international visits that created employment opportunities and contributed to national economic growth.
"These investments are not only creating employment opportunities for the youth but are also contributing to the overall economic growth of the country," he explained. "The MEA's decision will certainly prove detrimental to Punjab's economic growth, but we will not be deterred and will continue working relentlessly for the progress of the state."
Despite this setback, Punjab's leadership remains committed to pursuing investment opportunities. The state government plans to continue its efforts to attract global business through alternative means.
