Punjab Chief Minister Pushes for Stronger UK Ties in Emerging Sectors

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday pushed for “stronger and broader” engagement with the UK, especially in unexplored business domains, while chairing the Punjab-UK Engagement Strategic Dialogue in Chandigarh on Tuesday. During a meeting with British Deputy High Commissioner Alba Smeriglio and representatives of various UK-linked and multinational companies, the Chief Minister said Punjab is keen to deepen ties with the UK in both traditional and emerging sectors. He said the state has identified five core pillars of collaboration — higher education, textiles, engineering, auto components, and agro and food processing, along with new focus areas including pharmaceuticals and healthcare, information technology, global capability centres (GCCs), and business services. Mann shared a detailed dossier showcasing Punjab’s strengths, highlighting that the state enjoys world-class physical connectivity with five airports and robust national highway links, giving seamless access to domestic and international markets.