 "Uttar Pradesh government hosts US biz delegation")
The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday hosted an American business delegation and sought investment in agro-food processing, manufacturing, infrastructure, IT, skills development and healthcare. The Akhilesh Yadav-led state government is set to complete a year in office on March 15.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in association with US India Business Council (USIBC) and UP, organised the business summit ‘Destination Uttar Pradesh - Investing in Future’, which brainstormed UP–US business opportunities.
Addressing the American delegates, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said capital and technology were the critical gaps in realising the untapped potential of the state.
UP holds 11 per cent of the national purchasing power and is a leader in agricultural production, said Yadav. “Rural UP is the revolution waiting to happen. The average growth rate of the state is six per cent and it is one of the five-bestperforming states in the country.”
Yadav invited US companies to invest in defence, heavy engineering and automobile sectors, while assuring an enabling environment and partnership.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Jawed Usmani said UP was committed to making the state the most preferred investment destination and that food processing, IT, solar, sugar and poultry had been identified as thrust areas.
“Integrated infrastructure holds the key to the future of UP. Investment worth $ 4.2 billion is proposed in highway projects. In power, 15,000 Mw generation capacities are targeted in the 12th Plan. Plastic cities, mega food park, IT city, national investment manufacturing zones are also in offing,” he said.
USIBC chairman and MasterCard Worldwide CEO Ajay Banga said infrastructure had a crucial role to play in UP’s economic development. He further suggested that the state needed to create 1-2 million jobs.
CII UP State Council chairman and Tata Motors vice president Alok Saxena said UP was witnessing industrial development and attracting investments.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in association with US India Business Council (USIBC) and UP, organised the business summit ‘Destination Uttar Pradesh - Investing in Future’, which brainstormed UP–US business opportunities.
Addressing the American delegates, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said capital and technology were the critical gaps in realising the untapped potential of the state.
UP holds 11 per cent of the national purchasing power and is a leader in agricultural production, said Yadav. “Rural UP is the revolution waiting to happen. The average growth rate of the state is six per cent and it is one of the five-bestperforming states in the country.”
Yadav invited US companies to invest in defence, heavy engineering and automobile sectors, while assuring an enabling environment and partnership.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Jawed Usmani said UP was committed to making the state the most preferred investment destination and that food processing, IT, solar, sugar and poultry had been identified as thrust areas.
“Integrated infrastructure holds the key to the future of UP. Investment worth $ 4.2 billion is proposed in highway projects. In power, 15,000 Mw generation capacities are targeted in the 12th Plan. Plastic cities, mega food park, IT city, national investment manufacturing zones are also in offing,” he said.
USIBC chairman and MasterCard Worldwide CEO Ajay Banga said infrastructure had a crucial role to play in UP’s economic development. He further suggested that the state needed to create 1-2 million jobs.
CII UP State Council chairman and Tata Motors vice president Alok Saxena said UP was witnessing industrial development and attracting investments.