UP hub of investment, development: PM

Gautam Buddha Nagar, Sep 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the third edition of the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS) at the India Expo Centre & Mart in Greater Noida, calling the state a hub of investment and development brimming with opportunities.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was present at the event. In his address, the Prime Minister hailed the recently introduced Next Generation GST reforms as a landmark in India’s economic journey, saying they have eased the burden on consumers and boosted trade and industry. “GST reforms are saving an average family nearly `25,000 annually while reducing costs across sectors, from clothing to tractors,” he said, contrasting the present tax regime with what he termed the “tax plunder” under Congress rule.

Highlighting Uttar Pradesh’s rapid transformation, PM Modi said the state has undergone a “connectivity revolution,” with the largest network of expressways and international airports in the country. Projects like the Dedicated Freight Corridor and the Defence Corridor, he noted, are turning UP into an industrial powerhouse. The Prime Minister pointed to the state’s growing share in India’s manufacturing sector, noting that it now accounts for 55% of mobile phone production and will soon house a major semiconductor facility. He said defence manufacturing was also gaining momentum, with AK-203 rifle production set to begin in collaboration with Russia.

Urging investors to explore the “immense possibilities” in Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi emphasised the importance of self-reliance. “Whatever can be made in India, must be made in India,” he said, stressing that durable, user-friendly indigenous products will strengthen Atmanirbhar Bharat and Indian credibility in global markets. He also lauded state-led initiatives such as Namami Gange, which is boosting tourism, and One District One Product (ODOP), which has given a global identity to local crafts. “The ODOP catalogue itself is enough to showcase Uttar Pradesh’s diversity to the world,” he remarked.

On the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, the Prime Minister recalled the principle of Antyodaya, ensuring development reaches the poorest. He linked this to schemes like the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal, where small shopkeepers and MSMEs supply directly to the government, with purchases worth `15 lakh crore so far.

PM Modi also underscored the success of India’s digital revolution through platforms like UPI, Aadhaar, and DigiLocker, which he said have empowered everyone from street vendors to mall shoppers. Looking ahead, the Prime Minister said Uttar Pradesh would play a crucial role in building a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

With a young workforce, expanding infrastructure, and stable democracy, India, he said, is among the most attractive destinations for global investors. “Your participation will not just strengthen Uttar Pradesh but help build a developed India,” he told the gathering, asserting that the state’s rapid progress under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has laid the foundation for a self-reliant nation.