Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh/Sharjah
Punjab Industries and Commerce Minister Aman Arora held strategic discussions with the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC) in Sharjah to strengthen trade, investment and industrial partnerships between Punjab and the UAE.
The discussions focused on strengthening business-to-business (B2B) linkages and creating a structured framework for enterprises from Punjab and Sharjah to identify partners, explore joint ventures, expand exports and develop long-term commercial ties.
As a key outcome, IBPC and Invest Punjab agreed to intensify industry-to-industry engagement. Invest Punjab will facilitate linkages between Sharjah-based manufacturers, exporters and service providers and suitable Punjab enterprises. It will also support Punjab companies seeking to explore business and market opportunities in the UAE, Arora said.
The minister highlighted Punjab’s strong industrial base, entrepreneurial ecosystem and strategic location in North India. He said the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has undertaken several reforms to simplify regulations, improve ease of doing business and provide end-to-end facilitation to investors.
Arora said Punjab was looking beyond conventional investment promotion and aimed to develop two-way business partnerships across manufacturing, exports, services, technology and emerging sectors. He also invited the Sharjah business community to visit Punjab, engage with Invest Punjab and explore opportunities across the state.
The discussions also highlighted the opportunities arising from the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Arora said stronger Punjab-UAE business ties could boost bilateral trade and help Punjab-based manufacturers and exporters use the UAE as a gateway to markets across the Middle East and other international destinations.
The meeting also recognised Sharjah’s extensive industrial ecosystem, comprising more than 3,000 manufacturing units, seven free zones and 18 industrial zones, as a strong foundation for strategic partnerships with Punjab.
Invest Punjab CEO Amit Dhaka made a presentation highlighting Punjab’s investment opportunities, progressive industrial policies and major Ease of Doing Business reforms. He also explained Invest Punjab’s single-point facilitation model for regulatory clearances, investment facilitation and aftercare through the technology-driven FastTrack Punjab portal.
The initiative is expected to promote business matchmaking, trade partnerships, joint ventures and enhanced market access, further strengthening Punjab’s economic engagement with the UAE and helping its enterprises integrate into global value chains.
