News & Events

President & Vice President’s Address during Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2026 – Day 1

Session: Brand Mohali | 13^thMarch 2026 | Plaksha University

Mohali’s vision as a leading hub for growth and innovation took centre stage during the “Brand Mohali” session at the Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2026, held on 13^thMarch at Plaksha University.

The session opened with remarks by Mr. Vineet Vijayavargia, Managing Director & Partner, Boston Consulting Group, followed by a context-setting presentation from Mr. Vikas Garg, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Housing & Urban Development, who outlined the “Brand Mohali” roadmap.

Mr. Manipal Dhariwal, President, Mohali IT City IT Companies Association and CEO & Co-Founder, Netsmartz Group, addressed the audience from a technology perspective. He highlighted Punjab’s strategic advantages, describing it as a gateway to nearly 80 million people across northern India, supported by a strong talent pipeline from institutions such as Punjab Engineering College, IIT Ropar, NIPER, ISB, and over 100 engineering colleges, along with cost-effective infrastructure and proximity to national capital markets.

He noted that the startup ecosystem in the region is thriving, with strong support from the Punjab Government for startups—the future job creators and innovators. He also highlighted the presence of several Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in the region, including Infosys, Tech Mahindra, and ZScaler, which are further strengthening the IT ecosystem.

In closing, he underscored the region’s robust infrastructure, with multiple IT parks across Mohali and the Tricity generating thousands of jobs. He highlighted the advantages of strong air connectivity, a superior quality of life compared to Tier-1 cities, and a more affordable cost of living. Pointing to the global success of the ‘Work-Live-Play’ model, he expressed confidence that Mohali is well on its way to becoming one of India’s most desirable cities.

Mr. Jitin Talwar, Vice President, Mohali IT City IT Companies Association and Founder, TT Consultants & XLSCOUT, highlighted that while their operations span across USA, Germany, Japan, Pune, and Chennai, they have consciously chosen Mohali as a key hub for expansion.

He noted that India is entering a pivotal phase of growth and Mohali stands out due to its cost-effective ecosystem, strong government support, and rich talent pool. Attrition rates in the region are 8–10% lower than metro cities, providing greater stability for companies. He further emphasized that Mohali offers metro-level infrastructure, IT parks, reputed educational institutions, lower operational costs, and strong gender diversity, making it an attractive destination for businesses.

Mr. Talwar also highlighted the growing industry-academia collaboration with institutions such as IIT Chennai, Western University, and Plaksha University, which is creating strong synergies for innovation, talent development, and future growth.

While delivering the Special Address, Mr. Sanjeev Arora, Cabinet Minister for Industries, Commerce & Investment Promotion, Punjab, announced that the Punjab Government is establishing a dedicated start-up hub at Kalkat Bhavan, modeled on South Korea’s Pangyo Techno Valley, positioning Mohali as the state’s innovation nerve centre.

He highlighted key initiatives such as industrial power tariffs for IT companies and data centres, which will make electricity among the cheapest in the country for the sector. He also noted that companies investing in Mohali can access top Punjabi talent with significantly lower attrition rates.

On air connectivity, the Minister shared that the state government is in discussions with Air India and Air India Express to expand international flight connectivity from Chandigarh, in line with the city’s growing global profile.

Other eminent speakers Mr. Bhaskar Barauh, Chief Development Officer, ITC Hotels Ltd.; Dr. Rudra Pratap, Founding Vice Chancellor, Plaksha University; and Mr. Ashish Bhatia, Regional COO, Fortis Healthcare, also shared their perspectives on Mohali’s emergence as a major destination for growth and development.

The session also marked the launch of the book “Invest Mohali,” highlighting the region’s growing investment and innovation ecosystem.

Distinguished dignitaries such as Ms. Seema Bansal, Vice-Chairperson, Punjab Development Commission, and Ms. Sakshi Sawhney, IAS, CA, GMADA, along with senior government officials, were also present.

The session drew participation from over 200 stakeholders across diverse sectors, underscoring Mohali’s growing appeal as a hub for IT innovation and investment.