Celebrating Punjab’s Homegrown Business Leaders
ZEE Media and SAP’s Architects of Viksit Bharat journey reached Ludhiana after successful editions in Delhi and Ahmedabad. In Ludhiana, the mission was to recognise business leaders from homegrown enterprises who embody resilience, agility, and selfreliance. The forum honoured businesses contributing to Punjab’s growth and advancing the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
More than 25 Architects of Viksit Bharat were felicitated at the Ludhiana forum for their exemplary contribution to the Viksit Bharat Abhiyan. As ZEE Media and SAP celebrated the entrepreneurial spirit of Ludhiana’s vibrant SME ecosystem, the event recognized enterprises that are resilient, technology-driven, rooted in frugal innovation, and committed to green growth, all working toward the shared mission of making India a developed nation by 2047.
Shri Aman Arora, Cabinet Minister for Industries & Commerce, Investment Promotion, and New & Renewable Energy Sources, Government of Punjab, graced the occasion as Chief Guest.
His presence became a powerful source of encouragement and inspiration for Ludhiana’s entrepreneurs and SMEs, as the forum recognized their contribution to Punjab’s economic growth.
“Punjab is no longer excelling only in agriculture but is also adopting technology within it. The risktaking capacity, entrepreneurial skill, and innovation capability of Punjab’s business leaders are unmatched anywhere in the world. Today’s global situation and geopolitical shift have given India an immense opportunity, as the new India offers a surplus of skilled workforce, technology adoption, and a thriving business environment,” said Aman Arora in his keynote address.
Aman Arora also took part in a dedicated session, where he responded to questions on SME growth strategies, government policies, and the ease of doing business in Punjab, among other topics.
Two engaging panel discussions were also held. The first, titled “Adoption of AI across Indian homegrown enterprises and the value it brings” featured: Amit Thapar, President, Ganga Acrowools Ltd, Raman Arora, Managing Partner, Diverse Infotech, Padma Shri Onkar Singh Pahwa, CMD, Avon Cycles, Mridula Jain, Founder, Shingora Textiles.
The panelists discussed skilled workforce development, technology integration, the challenges of AI adoption, and the value it brings to Indian homegrown enterprises.
The second session, “Frugal by Design, Global by Ambition,” featured: Rishi Gupta, MD, Kova Fasteners Pvt Ltd, Ashwin Nagpal, Sr. Managing Partner, Haveli Ram Bansi Lal Pvt Ltd.
The session explored how Ludhiana’s homegrown enterprises can preserve the frugal, jugaaddriven ingenuity that built them, while developing the technology, innovation, and manufacturing
sophistication needed to compete on a global stage.
The forum was further enriched by the presence of Shri Neel Garg, Chairman, Punjab Medium Industry Development Board, Government of Punjab, who remarked: “Viksit Bharat is simply not possible without Punjab. Viksit Bharat cannot happen by sitting in Delhi. It will happen from the factories of Ludhiana, the workshops of Jalandhar, the IT hubs of Mohali, and the industrialists of Amritsar. When the industrialists of Punjab grow, only then can Viksit Bharat happen.”
The event concluded on a strong note, reaffirming the collective commitment of Punjab’s business community to drive innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth while contributing to India’s journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047.