By: Amit kumaR Agarwal
Uttar Pradesh is fast becoming Uttam Pradesh under the visionary leadership of the chief minister, Yogi Adityanath. The opening ceremony of U.P. International Trade Show-2024 at the India Expo Center and Mart in Greater Noida on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, bore testimony to this fact.
The glittering opening of the trade-show which also saw the address by the Indian Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar, proved once and for all that U.P’s stature is continually growing as a preferred destination for global trade and investments.
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Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chief minister Yogi Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh has the largest Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) base in the country, emphasizing that this sector is the second-largest job creator after agriculture and has played a significant role in the state’s transformation into an industrial powerhouse. Addressing the gathering at the inaugural function, the CM said, “According to a survey, there are 96 lakh MSME units spread across 75 districts in the state”.
Yogi Adityanath highlighted the fact that “U.P. is on the path to becoming the growth engine of India’s economy. Through initiatives like the UPITS, we are not only showcasing our cultural and industrial strength but also inviting the world to be a part of our journey toward becoming a trillion-dollar economy”.
“When our government assumed office in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, several initiatives were launched to implement the vision of a self-reliant India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi,” the chief minister said.
Speaking about the international trade show, Adityanath said that as part of this effort, each of the state’s 75 districts identified a unique product under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme. We expanded the campaign by focusing on promotion, branding, marketing, design, packaging, and technology. This initiative has since become a key driver of employment generation in Uttar Pradesh. He continued his speech saying that during the Covid-19 pandemic, workers from U.P employed in various states faced a significant livelihood crisis. While the nation was concerned about their situation, I was confident in U.P’s potential.
Adityanath said, “Even if four crore workers had returned (during Covid ) then also U.P would have accommodated them. As soon as workers arrived, the government conducted skill mapping for all 40 lakh workers, made their data accessible to every district, and facilitated job opportunities in relevant units”.
The CM said, “This is the same Uttar Pradesh which was seven years ago seen as an obstacle to the nation’s development. But today it is recognized as the growth engine driving India’s progress. The MSME sector plays a significant role in this transformation. No major industrial investment can advance without a strong MSME base”.
Speaking about the international trade show the CM said that this will provide an opportunity for Uttar Pradesh’s entrepreneurs to present their products on a global platform. He added that over the next five days, numerous programs, including G2G and G2B initiatives, will take place to highlight the state’s potential and establish it as a significant forum showcasing the state’s rich cultural and social diversity.
Emphasizing on the infrastructure created, the CM said, “Uttar Pradesh is recognized not only for its robust base of MSMEs but also for its excellent infrastructure. At present, six expressways are operational in the state with construction going on for seven more. There are 11 functioning airports, with work in progress on 10 others. Four international airports are currently operational and the state aims to complete the country’s largest Noida International Airport (Jewar) by the end of this year”.
Speaking on the Ganga Expressway (GE), the longest in the country; the CM said that GE is set to connect western and eastern Uttar Pradesh, with efforts underway to make it operational before the Prayagraj Mahakumbh in 2025.
He expressed confidence that the five-day trade show will effectively showcase state’s products, potential, cultural specialties, and social diversity on a global platform.