Six More Sectoral Committees Notified for Industrial Policy Enhancement in Punjab: Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora

Ashok Arora of LT Foods (Dawat Rice) & A S Mittal of International Tractors Ltd among Chairmen of the newly formed committees

Chandigarh/Ludhiana, July 26, 2025

In continuation of the Punjab Government’s initiative to gather suggestions from industry experts for strengthening the state’s industrial policy and improving ease of doing business, Punjab Cabinet Minister Shri Sanjeev Arora today announced the formation of six more sectoral committees.

He made this announcement at a press conference held at Bachat Bhawan, District Administrative Complex, Ludhiana here on Saturday.  The chairmen of the committees are as under: Rajesh Kharbanda (Sports Goods Manufacturing and Exporters Association & MD Nivia Sports, Jalandhar)- Sports/Leather Goods Committee, Ashwani Kumar (President FIEO India, Victor Forgings, Jalandhar)- Machine/Hands Tools Committee, Ashok Arora (LT Foods (Dawat Rice)-Food Processing &Dairy, Gurjinder Singh (Best Western Hotels)- Tourism & Hospitality Committee, A.S. Mittal (International Tractors Ltd, Hoshiarpur)- Heavy Machinery, Naresh Tiwari (Plywood Manufacturing industries Association & MD  Virgo Panels, Hoshiarpur)- Furniture & Ply Industry Committee.

These committees include members from diverse industrial sectors and will serve as think tanks to recommend sector-specific policy measures. The new committees are focused on Sports/Leather Goods, Machine/Hand Tools, Food Processing & Dairy, Tourism & Hospitality, Heavy Machinery, and Furniture & Ply Industry.

Shri Sanjeev Arora said the core task for each of the committees will be to provide the Government with a structured set of inputs for a customised industrial framework/policy for their specific sector keeping in mind Punjab’s unique industrial eco system along with structural and fiscal context. For this the committee should examine policies and frameworks of all other relevant states in the country and thus develop a ‘best-in-class’ policy framework for Punjab. The committees shall submit these recommendations in writing by 1^st October 2025.

Each committee will be having a Chairperson and some members from the industry. However more members may be added at the discretion of the Government. Members will be diverse in size, scale, and geography to ensure all views are tabled during discussions. Members will also represent different sub- segments of the overall sector.

Secretariat support to each committee shall be provided by the Member-Secretary of the Committee as noted above, who shall also be in-charge of organizing the meetings of the Committee and preparing the minutes. General Manager District Industries Centre (GM DIC) from Department of Industries & Commerce and the relevant Sector Officer from Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion (PBIP) shall assist the Committee with relevant administrative support, as necessary.

Earlier, three committees such as Spinning and Weaving Committee, Apparels Committee and Dyeing and Finishing Units Committee were constituted.

Below are the details of members appointed to each committee: