By Karan Kapoor / Sawinder Singh

Ludhiana/ Amritsar, Dec 21 (ANI): Today’s business environment in the country is favourable for both trade and investment, and Punjab is cashing in on this opportunity through international tie-ups and trade shows.

Tajikistan’s Ambassador in India, Saidbed Saidov was in Punjab recently to take part in deliberations on fostering Indo-Tajik trade and investment.

He met Punjab’s political and business leaders, and evinced keen interest in setting up joint ventures in agro-processing and agriculture as well as power from non-conventional sources of energy and hydropower generation. Tajikistan is keen to invest in Punjab and transfer technology for setting up hydel power plants.

“Today in Punjab, I am seeing Punjabi people working very hard and they should go to Tajikistan for tourism because 93 percent territory of Tajikistan has mountains. We have very good places and good facility and good weather. That’s why I as ambassador of Tajikistan welcome everybody of you Punjabi people. I invite you to visit Tajikistan,” Saidov said. Punjab is fast emerging as an investment destination and its industrial policy has a special dispensation for mega and super mega projects. It is the leader in cycles, textile, leather and agro-products and has the potential to export its products to Tajikistan. Punjab also looks forward to forging an alliance with the major Tajikistan industrial units to deliver quality products. The cycle industry is buoyant with the opening up of trade with Tajikistan.

“The geographical area of Tajikistan is very much similar to Punjab. We hope that relations between both countries will improve. Tajikistan has a population of seven million and every house has 2-3 cycles. We are looking at a big market there. The cycle industry of our country has remained unnoticed till now but their visit has given us a hope. We are planning to visit Tajikistan with our delegation very soon,” said D.S Chawla, President of the United Cycle and Parts Manufacture Association.

Punjab has a diversified agricultural economy and is a major producer of food grains contributing more than 60 per cent to the national food pool besides producing quality vegetables, fruits and vegetables. The state now looks forward to forging an alliance with the major Tajikistan industrial units to value add to its agricultural produce. “The cotton yield of Tajikistan is similar to an extent to Punjab and our textile industry depends on cotton. Tajikistan possesses plenty of fertile land, so they wish that Punjabi farmers would produce cotton, wheat and other crops there,” said Pavitra Pal Singh, President of the Pau Kisan Club.

In recent years, Punjab has been projecting itself as a destination for trade and investment. In a recently concluded Punjab International Trade Expo (PITEX) in Amritsar several participating countries explored the possibility of business promotion and collaboration in the North Indian market. Punjab has a lot to offer to its foreign partners. (ANI)