UP is now India's growth engine: CM Yogi Adityanath highlights expressways, exports and reforms at industry meet

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that investing in UP is not just about one state but about strengthening the entire nation's economy. Speaking at a special meeting with leading entrepreneurs and industry associations in Lucknow on January 31, the Chief Minister said UP's economic progress would not have been possible without strong participation from industries.

He called industry the biggest partner in the state's prosperity, job creation and the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

CM Yogi said the government does not see industries only as investors but as development partners. He assured entrepreneurs of full support in policy decisions, infrastructure and administration adding that incentives under industrial policies will be given in a transparent and time-bound manner. The Chief Minister also said the state is working to reduce the cost of industrial land, logistics and approvals to make UP more attractive for new businesses, especially MSMEs.

The Chief Minister urged industry groups to actively take part in UP's social development through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He suggested CSR contributions in Education, Healthcare, Skill development, Women empowerment, Environment protection and local infrastructure. He said industry's social role is important for inclusive growth in the state.

During interactions with Laghu Udyog Bharati, CM Yogi invited suggestions to boost innovation in the MSME sector. He stressed better packaging and product design, stronger export promotion, and more opportunities for women in textiles and garment manufacturing. He also highlighted the potential of the toy industry and called for the development of toy parks in Uttar Pradesh.

To solve industry issues faster, CM Yogi ordered major reforms in Udyog Bandhu meetings like District Magistrate and SP must attend district meetings, all issues must be resolved before the next meeting, state-level meetings to be held outside Lucknow too, divisional meetings every two months with senior officials and quarterly state meetings with Chief Secretary and DGP. The goal is faster, time-bound solutions for entrepreneurs.

A presentation at the meeting showcased UP's major transformation over the last nine years. Key highlights included about 55 percent of India's expressway network is in UP. Total expressway length around 1,225 km, 6 expressways operational, 7 under construction, Eastern and Western Freight Corridors pass through UP and their intersection at Dadri makes UP a logistics hub.

UP now has 16 operational airports, 4 international airports and Jewar International Airport under rapid construction. This has greatly improved connectivity and supply chains for businesses.

The presentation shared that UP’s merchandise exports reached about ₹1.86 lakh crore in 2023–24 — a growth of over 100 percent in the last seven to eight years. Strong growth has been seen in engineering goods, electronics, textiles, defence manufacturing and agro-processing.

Registered factories in the state have grown from about 8,980 in 2003 to nearly 27,000 today. Industrial development is expanding not only in big cities but also in Purvanchal, Bundelkhand and Western Uttar Pradesh. Through four Ground Breaking Ceremonies, projects worth over ₹15 lakh crore have already been implemented. Preparations are on for GBC@5 with projects worth around Rs 6 lakh crore.

UP ranked first in India under Deregulation 1.0. Key reforms include building Bye-Laws 2025, auto-scrutiny systems, third-party inspections, and removal of nearly 200 compliances across 40 laws. With Nivesh Mitra 3.0, services of over 40 departments are now integrated with real-time tracking and reduced paperwork.

The state plans to upgrade 185 industrial clusters over the next two years with an investment of about Rs 5,000 crore. An additional Rs 400 crore has been allocated for roads in industrial areas.

The meeting saw representatives from major organisations including CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, PHD Chamber of Commerce, Indian Industries Association, Laghu Udyog Bharati, DICCI, NASSCOM, amd CREDAI. Industry leaders shared suggestions on policies, investments and development.