Model for Revival of Punjab Economy

Ludhiana, November 12, 2026: The Guru Ramdas Centre for Economic Growth, functioning under the Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, in association with the Dr. Inderjit Singh Agriculture and Rural Development Centre, organised a special seminar on "Model for Revival of Punjab Economy" on Wednesday.
 Dedicated to the 115th birth anniversary of legendary banker and visionary socio-economic development pioneer Dr. Inderjit Singh, former Chairman of Punjab & Sind Bank and founder of Bank of Punjab, the occasion was also observed as Entrepreneurship Day. Partap Singh, former senior officer of Bank of Punjab, former Chairman of the Study Circle Trust and Director of the Dr. Inderjit Singh Agriculture and Rural Development Centre, shared his five decades of association with Dr. Inderjit Singh. Recalling his journey from Lahore, higher education in commerce and accountancy in England, to his distinguished banking career and establishment of Bank of Punjab at the age of 84, he highlighted his commitment to financial inclusion and the upliftment of disadvantaged sections of society.
The seminar brought together academicians, agricultural scientists, banking professionals, progressive farmers, entrepreneurs and social thinkers to deliberate on practical pathways for rebuilding Punjab's economic strength through agribusiness, rural enterprise, innovation and skill development. Representatives of Punjab Skill Bank formed by Sukrit Trust  also familiarised participants with its initiatives. Dr. Ramandeep Singh, Director, School of Business Studies, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), and Principal Investigator, NIDHI-TBI (Department of Science and Technology, Government of India), PAU-FEDS, delivered the keynote address. Emphasising the need to move beyond conventional agricultural practices, he advocated transforming agriculture into a professionally managed business ecosystem through value addition, agro-processing, branding, entrepreneurship, market-oriented production and efficient business management. He highlighted PAU's efforts to support farmers, including women farmers, in converting agricultural produce into diversified, value-added products and marketable brands with the assistance of research and technical teams.
The programme commenced with the soulful rendition of a Gurbani Shabad by Harshleen Kaur and Gurbani Kaur. Khushvinder Bir Singh, Director, Guru Ramdas Centre for Economic Growth, welcomed the participants and reviewed Punjab's economic journey over the past five decades. Jaspal Singh, General Secretary of the Centre, explained the objectives of the seminar. Dr. Sarabjit Singh Renuka, former Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication, PAU, paid tribute to Dr. Inderjit Singh, describing him as a banker guided by spiritual values and social commitment. He highlighted his contribution to the Green Revolution, the promotion of business opportunities through institutional banking and the creation of employment opportunities for thousands of Punjabis through Punjab & Sind Bank. He also presented a printed copy of a 30-page digital publication on Dr. Inderjit Singh's life, prepared through the Sukrit Trust's Punjab Skill Bank initiative.
The seminar recognised the achievements of progressive agripreneurs who have demonstrated how agricultural resources can be converted into sustainable business opportunities. Kaushal Singh, associated with Jaggercane Products, and Bhupinder Singh of Amolak Honey, both incubatees of NIDHI-TBI, PAU-FEDS, were felicitated for their contributions to agribusiness. Kaushal Singh, also an alumnus of PAU's School of Business Studies, shared his entrepreneurial journey, while Bhupinder Singh described the evolution of a local honey enterprise into a venture offering more than a dozen diversified honey-based products for wider markets, including exports.
Progressive farmer Jaspreet Singh was also recognised for achievements in agricultural diversification, including cultivation of exotic fruits and vegetables. Another young farmer Jaspreet who has innovated in new varieties of Bitter Gourd and is now exporting too was also honoured. Ikpreet Kaur, Director of Orest Industries, narrated her entrepreneurial journey of expanding from one or two products to nearly forty in four years, following the untimely demise of her husband, young entrepreneur Angad Singh. Tejvinder Singh of Big Ben, President of the Centre, shared the progress of developing health-oriented products with PAU's technical assistance. Jasmeet Kaur, former senior bank manager and promoter of the Makhivi brand, also participated. These success stories illustrated the potential of innovation, enterprise and market-oriented farming in improving rural incomes.
The role of NIDHI-TBI, supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and PAU-FEDS, in nurturing emerging agribusiness ventures through mentoring, technical guidance, business management inputs and market linkages was particularly highlighted.
Other participants shared valuable perspectives on rural and agricultural development. Surinder Singh, retired banker from Punjab National Bank and innovative farmer associated with K-Farm, emphasised the need for a harmonious relationship between rural wisdom and urban advancement, combining nature-based knowledge with modern innovation. Brij Bhushan Goyal, social-economic awareness writer and advocate of progressive cooperatives, stressed the importance of scaling up rural start-ups and strengthening collective enterprise models to enable small producers to achieve greater economic viability. 
The seminar witnessed the participation of academicians, agricultural experts and progressive farmers, including Dr. Balwinderpal Singh, Dr. Buta Singh, President, PAU Unit (GGSSC), Dr. Jaswinder Singh Brar and Dr. Mahinder Singh, Editor of the quarterly magazine Bahumantvi Kheti. Their observations enriched the deliberations on agricultural diversification, entrepreneurship and rural development.
Brijinderpal Singh, Chief Organiser, appreciated the dedicated efforts of agricultural scientists and institutions in translating research into practical benefits for farmers. The seminar concluded with a collective emphasis on building a sustainable and prosperous Punjab through stronger university-industry-farmer partnerships, professional agribusiness management, rural entrepreneurship, value addition, skill development and better market access. The deliberations underlined that Punjab's economic revival must move beyond dependence on traditional agricultural production towards an integrated ecosystem in which knowledge, innovation, enterprise and collective action create new opportunities for its people.