New Delhi | Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, presented a sweeping account of the state’s transformation at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Business Summit 2026 in New Delhi, asserting that Uttar Pradesh has evolved from a region once associated with lawlessness into a leading engine of India’s economic growth.
“From the state people once feared, today there are queues of investors waiting to enter Uttar Pradesh,” the Chief Minister said, highlighting reforms in governance, law and order, infrastructure, and industrial policy.
From “lawlessness” to investment destination
Addressing industry leaders, CM Yogi said that when his government assumed office in 2017, Uttar Pradesh was struggling with poor law and order, mafia influence, and an investment deficit. He claimed that earlier decades saw over 300 communal incidents annually and widespread “extortion-based systems” that forced industries to relocate.
He asserted that strict enforcement of the rule of law, elimination of criminal networks, and policy reforms have fundamentally changed the perception of the state. “No mafia today dares to challenge the system,” he said.
Industrial growth and MSME expansion
The Chief Minister emphasized that economic growth is rooted in manufacturing strength and enterprise development. He noted that Uttar Pradesh has built a strong micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) ecosystem, with nearly 9.6 million units supporting around 30 million jobs.
The state’s One District One Product (ODOP) programme, launched in 2018, was highlighted as a key driver of global recognition for local crafts through improved design, branding, and packaging support.
He also said that land banks, sector-specific policies, and investment-friendly frameworks have helped attract major industrial interest.
Infrastructure transformation: expressways and airports
CM Yogi credited large-scale infrastructure development for reshaping Uttar Pradesh’s economic landscape, citing major projects including:
- Purvanchal Expressway
- Bundelkhand Expressway
- Ganga Expressway
- Noida International Airport (Jewar Airport)
He said these projects have significantly improved connectivity, logistics efficiency, and industrial viability across the state.
Tourism and cultural revival
The Chief Minister also underscored the rapid growth of religious and cultural tourism, stating that Uttar Pradesh received over 156 crore visitors in the past year, including tens of millions of pilgrims during the Mahakumbh.
He highlighted major spiritual destinations such as Ayodhya, Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, Mathura-Vrindavan, Vindhyachal, and Buddhist and Jain circuits as central to the state’s global tourism identity.
The successful organisation of Mahakumbh was cited as evidence of administrative capability at scale.
Industry response
Industry leaders at the summit broadly welcomed the transformation narrative.
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) President Rajiv Memani said Uttar Pradesh has undergone a “phenomenal transformation” and is now viewed very differently by domestic and global investors.
CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee noted that improvements in manufacturing, logistics, digital governance, and urban development have positioned the state as a rising industrial hub.
Participants also praised governance reforms and infrastructure expansion, stating that connectivity projects and improved law enforcement have significantly enhanced investor confidence.
A state repositioned
Concluding his address, CM Yogi stated that Uttar Pradesh has moved beyond its earlier image of stagnation and is now positioned as a key contributor to India’s economic expansion.
He reaffirmed that the “double-engine government” aims to accelerate growth at “bullet-train speed,” combining security, infrastructure, and industrial policy to sustain long-term development.
Industry stakeholders, according to the summit discussions, now increasingly view Uttar Pradesh as a major investment destination rather than a high-risk market.
