Chandigarh, November 14: Punjab has been ranked India’s leading state in industrial development, receiving the “Top Achiever” award under the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) 2024, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) announced on Thursday.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal presented the award to the Punjab government during a ceremony in New Delhi. The recognition highlights the state’s performance across key areas including business start-ups, construction permits, investment promotion, sector-specific healthcare services, and service management.
Since March 2022, Punjab has secured investment proposals worth ₹1.23 lakh crore, projected to generate employment for nearly 4.7 lakh people. Major sectors attracting investment include food processing, textiles, auto components, hand tools, bicycles, IT, and tourism.
“Punjab’s approach to transparent governance and investor-friendly policies is helping the state emerge as a preferred destination for industrial investment,” an official said. Foreign investments have reportedly flowed in from countries including Japan, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, and the UAE.
The state government has also introduced the ‘Fast Track Punjab Portal,’ a single-window system offering over 150 business services online, reducing the need for physical applications and streamlining approvals.
DPIIT noted that Punjab’s policies and business environment have contributed significantly to ease of doing business in the state, positioning it as a model for others.
