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Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday called for deeper trade and investment engagement with Canada, with a special focus on British Columbia, saying enhanced cooperation could deliver tangible benefits for businesses and people on both sides. The Chief Minister was speaking during a meeting with the Premier of British Columbia, David Eby, who called on him here.
“Canada has always been a strong partner for India and Punjab, and we deeply value this relationship,” Mann said, adding that Punjab was keen further to strengthen trade and investment ties with Canadian businesses. “Punjab is fully prepared and enthusiastic to collaborate in sectors of mutual importance,” he said.
Highlighting Punjab’s economic strengths, the Chief Minister said the state is a leader in agro-processing, textiles, engineering goods, IT services and renewable energy. With robust infrastructure and a skilled, English-proficient workforce, Punjab offers an attractive destination for Canadian investors, he said, noting that the state ranks among the country’s top performers in ease of doing business. Through Invest Punjab, the government provides a single-window clearance system and end-to-end investor facilitation, he added.
Mann said British Columbia’s expertise closely aligns with Punjab’s development priorities, particularly in sustainable farming, food security and greenhouse technologies. He identified opportunities in precision agriculture, post-harvest systems and value-added food processing, while also flagging education and skill development as promising areas for collaboration with Canadian universities in research and vocational training.
Outlining sector-wise opportunities, the Chief Minister said Punjab was open to Canadian participation in healthcare and life sciences, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices and telemedicine, as well as renewable energy projects such as solar parks and bio-energy. He also pointed to scope for collaboration in IT and digital transformation, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and agri-tech, as well as in manufacturing and engineering, where Canadian expertise in agricultural machinery and precision engineering could complement Punjab’s industrial clusters.
Referring to exports, Mann said Punjab’s agricultural produce — including wheat, rice, kinnow, litchi and processed food products — has strong demand in Canada, supported by the large Punjabi diaspora. He also proposed collaboration in textiles and apparel, suggesting joint ventures catering to Canadian fashion and retail markets.
Emphasising the role of the diaspora as a bridge for commercial and cultural exchange, the Chief Minister invited Canada to participate as a partner country at the Progressive Punjab Investors Summit 2026. He also invited leading Canadian universities to explore setting up campuses in Mohali. He encouraged Canadian technology and services firms to establish IT and ITeS operations, as well as global capability centres, there.
Assuring full government support, Mann invited Canadian delegations to attend the Punjab Investor Summit scheduled from March 13 to 15, 2026, at Plaksha University, Mohali, expressing confidence that closer engagement would usher in a new phase of cooperation between Punjab and British Columbia.
Premier David Eby thanked the Chief Minister for the warm hospitality and said the visit had reinforced people-to-people ties. “Punjab always resides in the hearts of Punjabis living in British Columbia,” he said, adding that his province was keen to strengthen business relations with Punjab and explore opportunities in skill development, energy and other sectors of mutual interest.
