*PUNJAB TIES UP WITH NATIONAL TEST HOUSE TO SET UP WORLD-CLASS TESTING FACILITIES CLOSER TO INDUSTRIAL HUBS: AMAN ARORA*

*• State-of-the-art NTH lab to come up at NIIFT Jalandhar to serve Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar hubs, says Aman Arora*

*•Collaboration to help MSMEs enhance product quality, cut compliance costs: Industries Minister*

*•MoU exchanged on sidelines of NTH’s 115th Foundation Day celebrations in Bengaluru*

Chandigarh, August 30:In a major boost to the state’s industrialecosystem and its global ambitions, the Punjab Government has joined hands with the National Test House (NTH) to bring world-class testing and certification facilities right to the doorstep of its industrial hubs, a move set to slash compliance costs, cut turnaround time and give a decisive edge to MSMEs and exporters, said Mr. Aman Arora, Minister for Industries and Commerce, Punjab.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab and the NTH was exchanged on the sidelines of the NTH’s 115th Foundation Day celebrations in Bengaluru. The exchange took place between Director Industries & Commerce, Punjab Mr. Jaspreet Singh and Director General NTH Dr. Alok Kumar Srivastava.

Welcoming the partnership, Mr Aman Arora said, “For Punjab's MSMEs and exporters, quality is the passport to global markets. By bringing advanced testing capabilities closer to our industrial clusters, we will help local enterprises enhance product quality, reduce compliance costs and compete with greater confidence globally.”

As part of the agreement, a state-of-the-art NTH laboratory will be established at the Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology (NIIFT), Jalandhar, strategically located to serve the industrial hubs of Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar. The facility will cater to key sectors including sports goods, textiles, leather, hand tools, auto components and food processing, he said.

The Industries Minister further noted that the NTH, which functions under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, has expanded its expertise into emerging domains such as drone certification, EV battery testing and organic food testing. Its proven capabilities in testing against national and international standards will be a critical asset for strengthening Punjab's manufacturing competitiveness.

Reaffirming Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government’s commitment to building a robust testing ecosystem in the state, Mr. Aman Arora said that the initiative will ensure faster compliance, besides giving a major impetus to export-oriented manufacturing units and MSMEs, striving to meet national and international quality benchmarks.

The availability of advanced testing facilities close to industrial clusters would be a game-changer, Mr Aman Arora noted, while adding that it will help shorten product development cycles and strengthen quality assurance.The partnership would create a powerful synergy between NTH’s technical expertise and Punjab’s manufacturing prowess to further cementing the state’s position as a preferred hub for globally competitive manufacturing.