SAS Nagar: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday announced that the state government will establish three world-class exhibition centres in Ludhiana, New Chandigarh and Amritsar to boost industry and commerce in the state.

Speaking during the Progressive Punjab Investment Summit, Mann said the centres will provide industries with dedicated spaces to showcase products, attract investors and expand business networks. He said the facilities are being planned on the lines of Pragati Maidan to strengthen Punjab’s industrial ecosystem.

The Chief Minister said the state government is working to prepare Punjab’s economy for long-term growth with a focus on industry, exports and food processing. He added that Punjab has strong potential to move from traditional agricultural output to value-added exports.

Mann also highlighted Punjab’s role in ensuring food security, noting that the state produces around 185 lakh metric tonnes of rice and 125 lakh metric tonnes of wheat annually.

Emphasising the need for diversification, the Chief Minister said food processing and value addition could help farmers increase income and reduce dependence on the wheat–paddy cycle. He cited agricultural produce from Pathankot, Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar as examples where processing can create higher value for farmers.

Mann said Punjab currently exports goods worth over USD 7 billion and has more than 14 lakh MSMEs contributing to industrial growth and employment.

He added that the recently introduced Industrial & Business Development Policy 2026 aims to strengthen investment and simplify industrial approvals through Invest Punjab, which functions as a one-stop facilitation agency for businesses.

Cabinet Ministers Sanjeev Arora and Gurmeet Singh Khudian were also present on the occasion.