Jalandhar, Sep 27(ANI): Punjab's Jalandhar city is home to roughly two million Punjabis, who are settled abroad, and with growing investments by expats, the city is witnessing an overall transformation.
Over the years, the city has been attracting FDI in real estate, retail, and health among other sectors.
The city also attracts a large number of Punjabi NRIs, who come here for medical treatment, which provides a massive boost to the growth of healthcare in the city.
Testimonies to its booming medical business are the 200-plus private specialty clinics that have mushroomed in almost every nook and corner of the city.
"Bypass surgery, angioplasty... now people use to have growing collateral arteries. Now, the latest advances are that we do these processes of radial artery. So, patient does need not to be on bed and he can walk immediately. This is one of the small examples of latest technology, which is imbibed in a small place like Jalandhar," said Dr. Raman Chawla, Director of Oxford hospital.
"Now, as far as comfort is concerned my personal feeling is people don't mind paying. You need to give them comfort, a five star facility. We at Jalandhar, being so many hospitals around, created a sense of competition once you have a sense of competition that obviously improves your quality," he added.
A growing hub of manufacturing goods, Jalandhar also occupies a prominent place in the burgeoning sports goods industry in the country.
With its massive potential for employment, growth and export, Jalandhar produces over 300 items including inflatable balls, hockey sticks, cricket bats and boxing equipment.
But, this highly labour intensive industry is seeking foreign direct investment in technology upgradation and manufacturing equipment of modern sports.
"In sports like golf and fishing, equipments are not made in India. And, this is one country where sports are growing and more and more people are playing sports. So, new items are being imported and if the investment is done within the country then the production will start over here. And we can export and employment will also be there," said Ramesh Kohli, Chairman of Beat All Sports.
Jalandhar is also known for manufacturing of hand tools, and is an emerging manufacturing hub of auto components as well.
The city also boasts of a leather industry, has a leather complex, which comprises of 100 leather units that contributes to over 20 per cent of country's leather exports.
It produces bags, shoes, jackets and other products of good quality leather.
"Most of the leather industry is small and medium enterprises. I think there is much of scope, but then big industry has to be brought and then India can also compete with China. There is tremendous scope of investment from abroad," said Lt. Col. (Retired) J S Paul, Chairman of Paulbro Leathers Private Ltd.
The city, which has a per capita of Rs.21,100, is witnessing a boom in its retail sector.
Shopping malls and multiplexes are mushrooming all over to cater to the city's residents and NRI visitors that is also creating opportunities for retail investors. By Sumit Khanna(ANI)
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