News & Events

President’s Address during Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2026 – Day 3

Session: IT, ITeS& GCC | 15^thMarch 2026 | Plaksha University

A dedicated session on IT, ITeS& Global Capability Centres (GCCs) was organized on Day 3 of the Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit, i.e., 15th March 2026, at Plaksha University.The session highlighted Punjab’s growing appeal as a preferred destination for technology investments and digital innovation.

Mr. Manipal Dhariwal, President, Mohali IT City IT Companies Association & CEO, Netsmartz Group, was invited as a panelist. While sharing his insights on the expanding GCC ecosystem, he noted that:

• Tricity already has 50,000+ IT professionals and a thriving startup base.

• Strong fundamentals — cost efficiency, talent, infrastructure — make Mohali ideal for GCC growth.

• India hosts 2,000+ GCCs, with firms like Teleperformance, Zscaler &Everise already in the region.

• Around 100 new GCCs expected annually in India, each employing ~1,000 professionals — a game changer for Mohali.

While delivering the Special Address, Ms. Seema Bansal, Vice Chairperson, Punjab Development Commission emphasized the Punjab Govt.’s vision to develop Mohali as a Tier-1 city in the IT sector, with a focused approach on the key pillars of Governance, Academia, and Infrastructure.

Ms. Bansal further noted that several manufacturing industries in Punjab have already begun integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies into their production processes, reflecting the state’s growing push towards innovation and advanced technologies.

Mr. D. K. Tiwari, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Good Governance & Information Technology, detailed the robust incentives being provided by the Punjab Government to boost the IT industry under the Industrial & Business Development Policy 2026. He also, outlined key fiscal benefits for IT and ITeS units.

The expert panel discussion featured Dr. Bimal Deep Singh, Client Solution Head- Large Deals, Infosys; Mr. Rajwinder Singh Boparai, US Logistics and Mr. Baljit Singh, GNDGU, Texas. The panelists highlighted Mohali’s key strengths including a strong talent pool, lower operational costs compared to metro cities, and the growing inclination of IT professionals to return to Punjab. The discussion also explored emerging GCC models and the growing role of AI in shaping the region’s technology ecosystem.

The session was moderated by Mr. Chandan Singh, Director, KPMG and concluded with an interactive open house discussion. The event witnessed participation from nearly 150 delegates representing industry, academia, and government.