Lucknow — A Government-Industry Interactive Session was organized under the aegis of Invest UP in collaboration with the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) at Hotel Clarks, Lucknow. The session was an integral part of the Uttar Pradesh State visit by officers from the National Defence College (NDC), New Delhi, as part of their Understanding India Study Tour, focusing on socio-political-economic perspectives.
The session was chaired by Awanish Awasthi (Retd IAS), Advisor to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Invest UP was represented by Abhishek Prakash, CEO, while Aparna Yadav, Vice-Chairman of the State Women Council, also graced the event.
Diverse Delegation and Industry Participation
The distinguished delegation, led by Sri Vijay Nehra, IAS (SDS, CS), comprised 16 officers—10 from Indian Military and Civil Services, and six military officers from friendly foreign nations such as Japan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Zambia, and Bangladesh. Industry representatives spanned sectors including heavy industry, technology, education, manufacturing, real estate, hospitality, medical, retail, MSME, arbitration, agriculture, and commerce.
Key Highlights from Industry Leaders
Ashok Wadhwan, Joint President of Adani Group, discussed the ambitious Ammunition Park in Kanpur, inaugurated in February 2024. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the park has scaled its operations with robust government support and is already exporting to Europe and the USA.
Sanjeev Sarin, CEO of Phoenix Malls, highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s contribution of 15-20% to India’s retail sector. He emphasized the growth potential in Tier 2 and 3 cities, citing the presence of three Phoenix Malls in UP with future expansion plans, driven by the state’s conducive business environment.
Ashish Singh, MD of Malvika Steels, showcased the remarkable growth in high-quality cement production in Rae Bareli within 5-6 years, attributing success to the proactive support from the state government.
Dr. Lokendra from Medanta Hospital underlined the state’s pivotal role in promoting medical tourism, while Kirti Karmchandani, VP at HCL, lauded UP’s semiconductor policy as the best in India. She unveiled HCL’s upcoming data center projects and a mission to train nearly one million individuals.
Government Perspectives and Development Initiatives
Awanish Awasthi elaborated on the rapid development of six nodes under the Defence Corridor initiative in UP. The Lucknow Node is set to house a BrahMos missile unit, while Kanpur, Jhansi, and Aligarh are advancing rapidly. Industrial belts are also emerging along the state’s expressways. He credited Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s strong governance, law and order emphasis, and zero-tolerance policy towards crime for fostering an investor-friendly ecosystem.
Abhishek Prakash highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s transformative journey from the first Global Investor Summit in 2018 to the second in 2022. The state has successfully grounded investments worth 4-5 lakh crore rupees. He emphasized UP’s leadership in the MSME sector, the role of Nivesh Mitra (an integrated portal linking 41 departments), and the appointment of 120 dedicated Udyami Mitras to assist investors.
Aparna Yadav detailed government initiatives focused on women’s empowerment and safety, including the Helpline, One Stop Centre, Kanya Sumangla Yojana, and Mission Shakti.
Other Notable Contributions
The session featured insightful inputs from:
- Piyush Singh Chauhan, MD, SR Group of Institutions
- Manav Vishan Prakash, Universal Booksellers
- Dr. Manjula Goswami, Millennium School
- Utkarsh Raghuvanshi, AVP, Aditya Birla Group
- Prashant Chandra, Founder Trustee, CEMA and Senior Advocate
- Sandeep Kohli, Businessman
- Sudhir Kumar Srivastava, Hotelier
- Reena Singh, Chairperson, IACC Lucknow Desk
- DP Singh and Rajesh Gupta from the Agro Sector
- Anuradha Goel, Consultant
- Rajesh Gupta, ASSOCHAM UP
The event was skillfully coordinated and moderated by Mr. Mukesh Singh, Chairman of the IACC-UP State Coordination Committee.
Conclusion
The interactive session showcased Uttar Pradesh’s dynamic growth trajectory, strategic initiatives, and a collaborative environment that bridges government policies with industrial aspirations. The robust participation from diverse sectors and international delegates underscored UP’s rising prominence as an investment and development hub.
