YES Bank to be consultant

YES Bank will act as financial consultant for the Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board in selecting players to set up terminal markets in Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and Muktsar.

The bank will do the financial appraisal of each project and assist in bidding, evaluation and shortlisting players.

Speaking to Business Standard, Punjab State Agriculture Marketing Board Secretary Deepinder Singh said: "In response to the advertisement, two players "" YES Bank and NABCON (Nabard Consultancy) "" had shown interest in being financial consultant but according to the guidelines there should be at least three parties. So, we again advertised and YES Bank and NABCON again responded."

"Then we wrote to financial commissioner (development) and he selected YES Bank," he added.

Earlier, the Punjab State Agriculture Marketing Board had invited expressions of interest in establishing terminal market complexes in Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and Muktsar for fruit, vegetables and flowers through public-private partnership.

In response, five parties showed interest.