Amritsar, 5 December, 2011 : Calling upon the governments of both India and Pakistan to collaborate and open trade through the Wagah Border, S. Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab said, “Trade in Punjabs on both sides of the border can survive and flourish only when there is free flow of trade across the border to either side.”
Chief Minister was addressing the visitors during the Valedictory Ceremony of PHD-Punjab International Trade Expo, 2011, PITEX, 2011. He graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
Praising PHD Chamber’s efforts, Chief Minister said that PHD Chamber has been playing a great role to align the state and central government policies regarding trade and investment. Further he appreciated the dedicated endeavors of the Chamber to normalize trade and peace between India and Pakistan.
Badal said that PITEX has become phenomenal and both traders and visitors look forward to this expo each year. Badal informed that he had called a meeting of the state functionaries including officials from the Improvement Trust, Amritsar on 11th December, 2011, to finalise the allotment of land in Amritsar for setting up of permanent business and convention center which shall be managed by PHD Chamber.
Commenting on the power scenario in the State, Badal said that five years ago, Punjab State faced a shortage of 30%. “With the new thermal power plants in the offing which will get operational in the next one and a half years”, said Badal, “Punjab shall be a power surplus State”.
Dr. S S Channy, Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Punjab, said, here, that being a landlocked state, border is the only exit for Pak and Gulf countries. With Punjab having a stromg base for industry, agriculture, raw materials and Gulf countries being importers of such things, which they have to procure at exorbitant rates from Europe and other countries, the opening up of the borders would help the Gulf countries and in turn the local traders.
Salil Bhandari, President, PHD Chamber, said PHD Chamber’s focus is on socio-economic development of all the states with the main focus being on education, health, housing and infrastructure. PITEX, he said, is the annual flagship event which aims at making Amritsar a hub of international economic activity.
Dalip Sharma, Regional Director, PHD Chamber said that with its proximity to the border, air connectivity and the world class road infrastructure in place, the permanent expo centre, shall definitely improve the trade and investment potential of the State.
Ashok Khanna, Past President, PHD Chamber, Rajiv Bali, Chairman, Punjab Committee, PHD Chamber, R S Sachdeva, Co-Chairman, Punjab Committee, PHD Chamber, and Ms Susmita Shekhar, Deputy Secretary General, PHD Chamber were also present on the occasion.
