Established in 1962 by the Government of Punjab, the Punjab Small Industries & Export Corporation (PSIEC) has evolved into one of the most pivotal public sector undertakings in the state. As a State Government enterprise, PSIEC was conceived with a multifaceted mandate: to promote industrial growth, facilitate infrastructure development, catalyze exports, and preserve the rich cultural and artisanal heritage of Punjab. Over the past six decades, PSIEC has not only delivered on this mandate but has also expanded its scope, emerging as a cornerstone of Punjab’s economic development strategy.

At a time when India was focused on strengthening its industrial base post-independence, Punjab—renowned for its agricultural dominance—recognized the need to diversify its economy. Industrial development was the need of the hour, and PSIEC was formed as a specialized agency to support small industries that would power this transformation. Today, PSIEC’s influence permeates various aspects of Punjab’s industrial ecosystem, from the planning and execution of industrial estates to nurturing handicraft artisans through emporiums and enabling global market access for local producers.

What distinguishes PSIEC from other similar bodies is its integrated approach. It operates through various dedicated divisions, such as the Estate Department, which is responsible for the development and maintenance of industrial infrastructure; the Export Cell, which facilitates market linkages and trade promotion; the Emporium Section, which sustains traditional crafts; and multiple administrative and finance units that ensure smooth governance. This holistic model ensures that every component of industrial and artisanal growth—from land allotment and industrial plotting to trade exhibitions and artisan welfare—is covered under a unified framework.

One of the key achievements of PSIEC has been the development of numerous industrial focal points across the state. These focal points provide ready-to-use infrastructure, such as land plots, roads, sewage, power, and water supply to entrepreneurs and industrialists. Such facilities significantly reduce the entry barriers for new businesses, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which form the backbone of Punjab’s industrial output and employment generation. In fact, PSIEC has played an instrumental role in operationalizing flagship industrial estates in cities like Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Mohali—each of which has gone on to become a manufacturing hub in its own right.

Another dimension of PSIEC’s work lies in its commitment to promoting exports. Through its Export Cell, PSIEC acts as a bridge between local manufacturers and international markets. It provides technical guidance, export documentation assistance, and facilitates participation in global trade fairs and buyer-seller meets. In doing so, it not only elevates the competitiveness of Punjab’s products on a global stage but also strengthens the state’s economic resilience by reducing overdependence on local markets.

Beyond industrial promotion, PSIEC also carries a deep cultural responsibility. Through its Emporium Section, the Corporation has sustained and elevated traditional handicrafts like Phulkari, Juttis, Punjabi wooden furniture, and textile art. The establishment of Phulkari Emporiums in Chandigarh and other locations under PSIEC’s banner has provided local artisans with a reliable retail platform to reach customers while preserving a priceless cultural legacy that might have otherwise faded with modernization.

As the global economic landscape evolves and sustainability, innovation, and digitalization become central themes, PSIEC is also adapting its operations and vision. Initiatives related to green infrastructure, ease of doing business reforms, and collaboration with central schemes like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Startup India’ are increasingly becoming part of its roadmap. The Corporation’s ability to remain relevant and forward-looking even after six decades is a testament to its foundational strength and dynamic leadership.

In essence, PSIEC is not just a government agency—it is an enabler, an incubator, a promoter, and a protector. From MSMEs to exporters and artisans to industrial giants, PSIEC touches the lives of thousands of stakeholders across Punjab every day. Its impact is felt not just in GDP figures or export numbers, but also in the livelihoods it supports, the heritage it safeguards, and the trust it commands. As Punjab charts its next phase of industrialization, the role of PSIEC remains as critical today as it was at its inception, if not more.

Mandate & Organizational Structure

• Mission: to drive industrial and export development, promote culture, and ensure dynamic infrastructure.
• Organizational wings :
  • Estate Wing: develops and manages IFPs, provides online EMS & GIS support.
  • Export Cell: coordinates trade fairs (IITF etc.), implements schemes like TIES, sponsors overseas delegations.
  • Emporium Wing: runs Phulkari/handicraft stores, organizes exhibitions.
  • Technical & Admin Support: GIS, e‑auction, CSR and policy implementation.

 Core Functions & Key Initiatives

• Industrial Infrastructure
  Sets up IFPs from 50–500 acres, equips them with utility networks .
• E‑Auction & EMS
  Pioneered e‑auction for industrial & residential plots since 2019 .
• GIS-based Estate Management
  Value-added tools for efficient land records and allotment monitoring.
• Export Promotion
  Nodal for state export strategy (“Export Vision 2021–26”), organizes trade fair participation .
• Handicraft Support
  Phulkari emporiums established since 1962; PSIEC promotes crafts via training, product development .
• Other Schemes
  TIES, common effluent treatment, SITP/IT parks, pharma campus, cycling valley etc.

 Industrial Infrastructure Development

• Land bank creation and IFP rollouts
  Over 200+ focal points across Punjab .
• Land acquisition challenges
  2009 onward slow land procurement; 38% of plots remained vacant by 2019.
• Flagship projects:
  • Ludhiana high-tech cycling valley developed with Hero cycles on 378 acres (production started April 2021) .
  • Integrated pharma park approved; Kadiana Khurd park underway .

 Export Promotion Activities

• Export Cell functions :
  • Implements Export Vision 2021–26 and TIES schemes.
  • Organizes state booths at IITF New Delhi, PITEX etc.
  • Facilitates overseas missions for MSMEs.
• Impact: increased participation in global shows; sector-specific growth in pharma, engineering, handicrafts.

 Land & Estate Management

• EMS online portal streamlines post‑allotment services like plot transfers, billing, utilities .
• GIS integration ensures spatial data-based decisions.
• Policy framework (2020 onwards) for plot payment schedules, forgivable interest, COVID relief .
• E‑Auctions expansion across industrial and residential segments since 2019 .

 Key Projects & Success Stories

• Hero Cycle Valley, Ludhiana: 378+ acres, Hero cycles operational since April 2021 .
• Pharma Park: 132-acre integrated pharma hub,Wazirabad with necessary clearances .
• Kadiana Khurd Park: latest industrial expansion near Ludhiana .
• Handloom & artisanal initiatives via Phulkari stores: PSIEC’s durable cultural intervention.

 Criticism, Challenges & Reform Efforts

• Reform responses:
  • Enhanced monitoring via EMS & GIS.
  • Land-price amnesty, interest rate reductions, liberalized payment terms post‑2020 .
  • Shift to e‑auctions, single-window clearances via Invest Punjab portal .
• Stakeholder opinions: industry bodies demand privatisation, fair land pricing, require fresh leadership .

Policy Adaptations

• Operational slowdown: delayed land development and allotments in 2020–21.
• EMERGENCY Measures: reduced plot payment timelines, interest reliefs, restoration of cancelled allotments .
• Digital acceleration: ramped up EMS, e-auctions, and remote services to support existing allottees.

Recent Developments & Future Vision

• New policy push (2022–23):
  • IBDP‑2022 with EoDB reforms, Invest Punjab portal, fiscal incentives across industries .
  • Export Vision 2021–26 and continued international trade fair participation .
• Next-gen infrastructure: pharma park, Kadiana Khurd, cycle valley, newer focal point roll‑outs.
• Digital & strategic focus: EMS, GIS, CSR initiatives, e-auctions, and supportive policy frameworks.