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Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann arrives in the Netherlands to attract global investments
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann arrived in the Netherlands on April 18, 2026, to push for global investments and strengthen bilateral ties, accompanied by senior officials. He plans roadshows, one-to-one meetings, and presentations to showcase Punjab's investment climate and governance reforms, including a FastTrack single-window system and time-bound approvals. The trip follows his December 2025 visits to South Korea and Japan as part of a broader investment drive, and it has drawn political critique from opposition leaders.
Why It Matters
The Netherlands is a major foreign direct investor in India, and the visit aims to position Punjab as a preferred investment destination by highlighting policy stability, speed in decision-making, and investor-friendly governance.
Timeline
4 Events
Criticism from Shiromani Akali Dal on the foreign visit
April 18, 2026
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia criticized Mann's foreign visit, raising questions about the purpose of the tour and the expenditure involved amid the state's prevailing financial strain.
Roadshows and meetings to highlight Punjab reforms
April 18, 2026
During the visit, the delegation will conduct roadshows, one-to-one business meetings and interactions with major global corporations and institutions, presenting Punjab's governance and regulatory reforms, including the FastTrack Punjab single-window system offering more than 173 government-to-business services, auto-deemed approvals, PAN-based business identifiers, and amendments to the Punjab Right to Business Act, enabling time-bound in-principle approvals.
Punjab CM lands in the Netherlands to seek investments
April 18, 2026
Mann landed in the Netherlands on Saturday, accompanied by industry and commerce minister Sanjeev Arora, chief secretary KAP Sinha, and other officials, to strengthen bilateral partnerships and attract investments across priority sectors.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's December 2025 visits to South Korea and Japan
December 2025
Before the Netherlands trip, Mann had visited South Korea and Japan in December 2025 as part of his efforts to position Punjab as a stable, transparent, and future-ready investment destination.