Chandigarh, Apr 28 (PTI) The Netherlands has expressed interest in exploring the possibility of importing roses from Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Tuesday.

Mann stated this while sharing details of his recent visit to the Netherlands and Finland as part of his government's investment promotion outreach.

The Netherlands imports roses from Ethiopia. We asked (during our visit) why they do not get it from India, why not from Punjab? They say nobody told them earlier," said Mann while speaking to reporters here.

We spoke to them, and they will come here. If they get roses from here that will be cheaper than that of Ethiopia, said Mann.

If exports of our flowers increase, then the horticulture sector will get a boost, said Mann.

On April 19, a delegation led by the chief minister visited the world-renowned horticulture model Keukenhof, where 40,000 visitors come daily, and interacted with representatives of this place.

The visit was aimed at exploring partnership opportunities in the agriculture sector and discussing collaboration for the development of horticulture, he said, adding that the possibility of exporting rose from Punjab was explored.

The chief minister further asserted that his government has secured concrete global partnerships in agriculture, industry, and innovation that will directly benefit farmers, youth, and the state's economy.

Highlighting a Rs 1,300-crore JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) -backed push, strong interest from global companies, and advanced agri-tech collaborations from Keukenhof to Finland, Mann said these strategic tie-ups will accelerate crop diversification, attract investment, and firmly position Punjab as a global hub for innovation, research and development, and high-value farming.

Apart from investments worth Rs 1,300 crore being made by JICA, this tie up will play a key role in giving a major boost to crop diversification, said Mann.

The chief minister's visit to the European counties was aimed at promoting industrial investment and partnerships, strengthening collaboration in education and research exchange with a focus on technology exchange and plan for the holistic development of Punjab.

During the parleys, the possibility of joint projects in modern agricultural techniques and sustainable farming was explored, and it was agreed that cooperation for high-value crops and export-quality production would be done, said Mann, adding that the visit opened avenues for new industrial investments and tie-ups, along with opportunities for skill development and educational exchange.

"Agreement was also made on technology and innovation exchange with emphasis on building strategic partnerships," he said, adding that the Netherlands is famous for vertical agriculture, which can be replicated in Punjab.

The chief minister also spoke about his visit to the World Horticulture Center and shared the details of his meeting with the representatives of the Netherlands India Chamber of Commerce and Trade, besides having interactions with the Punjabi community there.

The delegation was apprised about the indoor production of 100 kg of tomatoes from one square metre, he pointed out.

Mann further said the efforts of his government produced desired results as the proposal for a research and development unit and an innovation hub in Mohali was mooted.

On April 20, Mann met legendary Dutch hockey player Floris Jan Bovelander and discussed the promotion of hockey and sports in Punjab. Mann said that Bovelander will soon visit the state to give a major fillip to hockey.

About his visit to Finland, Mann said that potential partnerships in startups and entrepreneurship were explored along with global recognition of Punjab's policies and achievements.

"On April 23, the delegation studied Finland's modern education model and had a deep understanding of pre-service training and continuous professional development," he said.

The delegation also examined child-centric and play-based learning systems, besides observing classroom practices, assessment systems, and learning environment design, the chief minister said. PTI CHS HVA