Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s relentless efforts to attract global investment are beginning to bear fruit, with South Korea emerging as a key partner in transforming the state’s agriculture sector. Following the Chief Minister’s recent visit to South Korea, a high-level delegation from the country engaged in detailed discussions in Chandigarh, focusing on smart farming, advanced agricultural machinery, and biotechnology. This collaboration signals a strong interest in leveraging South Korea’s technological prowess to address the challenges faced by Punjab’s small farmers.
The discussions highlighted South Korea’s expertise in vertical farming models, automation, seed technology, and small agricultural machinery—areas that could revolutionize farming in Punjab. Chief Minister Mann emphasized the potential of these technologies to make farming a profitable and sustainable profession for small and marginal farmers, who are increasingly finding it difficult to sustain themselves due to shrinking landholdings. “Because of fragmentation of land, farming is no longer a profitable venture for a large section of our farmers,” he noted, underscoring the need for technological interventions.
The Chief Minister’s vision resonated well with the South Korean delegation, which appreciated Punjab’s rich agricultural heritage and conducive working environment. The delegation was also extended an invitation to participate in the Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2026, scheduled to be held in Mohali from March 13 to 15, 2026. This summit is expected to provide a platform for furthering cooperation and investment in Punjab’s agriculture and technology sectors.
During the interactions, Chief Minister Mann drew a historical parallel between India and South Korea, both of which attained independence around the same time and faced similar challenges of poverty. He highlighted Punjab’s pivotal role in making India self-reliant in food production, thanks to the support of the Punjab Agricultural University. “Today, Punjab is one of the biggest contributors of food grains to the central pool,” he stated, reflecting on the state’s agricultural achievements.
The Chief Minister also expressed Punjab’s eagerness to adopt global best practices in agriculture, particularly from South Korea. He recalled his visit to Pang-yo Techno Valley, often referred to as the Silicon Valley of South Korea, and expressed keen interest in collaborating on the automation of agricultural machinery, smart apparatus, biotechnology, and seed technology. “We are keen on collaboration in automation of agri farm machinery, adoption of smart apparatus, biotechnology and seed technology, smart combine harvesters, transplanters, seeds and allied sectors,” he said, outlining the areas of potential collaboration.
The South Korean delegation responded positively to the Chief Minister’s vision, expressing keen interest in collaborating with Punjab. This positive response signals the possibility of concrete partnerships in the near future, which could bring cutting-edge agricultural and industrial technology to the state.
Chief Minister Mann’s visit to South Korea, which took place on December 8 and 9, 2025, was part of a focused outreach to position Punjab as a destination for global investment. The visit involved structured engagements with industry leaders and technology firms, with a clear focus on leveraging South Korea’s strengths in smart farming, automation, and agri-technology to boost farm productivity and drive sustainable economic growth in Punjab.
As Punjab moves towards technology-based solutions for its agriculture sector, the collaboration with South Korea could play a decisive role in making farming a profitable and future-ready profession for small and marginal farmers. The upcoming Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2026 is expected to further strengthen this partnership, providing an ideal platform for structured and mutually beneficial cooperation.