Davos, January 23: A high level delegation from Invest Punjab led by the Finance Minister, Manpreet Singh Badal held detailed discussions at two strategic sessions on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum.
According to an official spokesperson, Manpreet Badal joined the discussions with the heads of the several Multi National Companies including Mr. Bertrand Camus, CEO, Suez, Mr. Peter Bakker, President and CEO, WBCSD, Ms. Virginie Helias, Chief Sustainability Officer, P&G and others at the P&G session on “The 50L Home Coalition: Joining Forces to Reinvent Urban Living” to address the global water crisis.
The Finance Minister also shared the various water conservation campaigns like Jal Shakti Abhiyan etc that are being undertaken at the national level. In addition, he also highlighted the tremendous work being done in Punjab related to water conservation like creation of a Comprehensive Master Plan for water management in partnership with Mekorot (national water company of Israel) and the recent passing of the Punjab Water Resources (Management and Regulation) Bill 2020.
During another brainstorming session “Dubai Silk Road: Reinventing Trade and Logistics”, the Finance Minister joined UAE leaders like Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman & CEO, Emirates Airlines and Group, Sultan Al Mansoori, Minister of Economy, United Arab Emirates, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman, DP World, Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary-General, World Customs Organization etc. for deliberating upon transforming global trade systems.
Representing the Indian perspective as an emerging global trade hub, Mr. Badal also emphasised India’s, and Punjab’s, deepening ties with UAE across sectors such as agri export, food processing, logistics, real estate etc. Manpreet Badal also mentioned the great experience of industries like Sharaf Group (company has a logistics park in Punjab), Emaar (company is engaged in a real estate project in Punjab) and Virgin Hyperloop (company is currently identifying a hyperloop route) in Punjab.
The delegation met Mr. Shiv Vikram Khemka, Vice Chairman, Sun Group which is a diversified global group, with both operating and investment companies active in the areas of Private Equity, Renewable Energy, Oil & Gas, High Technology, Gold Mining and Real Estate. While the discussion focused mainly around energy and real estate. The delegation also apprised Khemka regarding huge potential in the education sector.
Productive meetings were also concluded with Mr. A. Gururaj, MD, Wistron (a Taiwanese OEM working primarily in the Electronics System Development and Maintenance sector) and Ms. Alisha Moopen, Deputy MD, Aster DM Healthcare (health care provider in Middle East, India & Philippines).
Considering the significance of the ESDM, Healthcare and Medical Tourism sectors for the State, these meetings would prove to be a milestone for Punjab to attract investments from these firms.
The visiting delegation also had a meeting with Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman, DP World wherein advance deliberations took place on DP World’s upcoming investment in a logistics park in the State.
Another meeting was also held with Mr. Neeraj Kanwar, Vice Chairman & MD, Apollo Tyres regarding a potential investment in a manufacturing unit in Punjab. The delegation also renewed contact with Mr. Yusuff Ali, Chairman, Lulu Group and explored new possibilities for expanding their current export agri & other products capacities from the State, the spokesperson added.
