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‘Punjab is industry-ready’: CM Bhagwant Mann to visit Japan on 10-day trip

Bhagwant Mann is set to meet representatives of 25 leading Japanese companies, including Yamaha, Panasonic, Sumitomo, Nippon, NEC, Toyota, etc.

3 min readChandigarhNov 29, 2025 03:07 PM IST

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann (File)

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will embark on a 10-day visit to Japan starting December 1, leading a delegation comprising Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora, Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, and other officials to invite Japanese industry leaders to invest in India.

Sources said that Mann will be in Tokyo and Sapporo to hold meetings with captains of industry there. The visit will be part of the state government’s international outreach in the run-up to the 6th Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit scheduled from March 13-15 next year.

Sources said that political clearance from the Centre had been received and preparations were being made for the trip. Mann was reportedly wrapping up all his meetings as he would be away from the state for 10 days.

“The Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections have also been announced for December 14. Model Code of Conduct is in place in rural areas. Hence, CM’s absence would not matter much. The elections have been timed in such a way that there is code during most of his visit abroad,” an official said.

“The CM’s schedule is packed. There are back-to-back meetings during all 10 days. He will be meeting representatives of 25 leading Japanese companies like Yamaha, Panasonic, Sumitomo, Nippon, NEC, Toyota and others. We will be doing our bit. We will showcase to Japan that Punjab is industry-ready. Let us see how successful the visit would be,” the official added.

On November 26, Mann, accompanied by Arora, held a detailed virtual deliberation with a high-level delegation from Japan comprising representatives of the Embassy of Japan, Japan External Trade Organisation, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in India, and leading Japanese companies.

The CM batted for a strategic tie-up with Japan in key sectors of advanced manufacturing, mobility, electronics, food processing, renewable energy, and global services.

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The interaction took place at the Indian School of Business in Mohali, where the CM extended an invitation to Japanese companies to be part of Punjab’s next phase of industrial transformation.

Meanwhile, a video of Mann meeting passengers waiting for buses amid a strike call given by the Punjab Roadways and PRTC contractual employees at Kurali at 4 am on Saturday surfaced. He is likely to visit Jalandhar to meet the family of the Jalandhar rape victim.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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