Lucknow: The fourth edition of the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Expo (UPITEX 2026) was inaugurated at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, marking another major step in strengthening trade, industry and entrepreneurship in the state. The five-day expo is designed to promote MSMEs, indigenous industries, innovation and cultural exchange, while providing a common platform for policymakers, exporters, artisans, financial institutions and entrepreneurs from across the country.
The expo was formally inaugurated by Cabinet Minister Rakesh Sachan, Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Khadi and Village Industries, Silk Industry, Handloom and Textiles, Government of Uttar Pradesh. The inaugural ceremony was attended by senior dignitaries including Awanish Kumar Awasthi (Retd. IAS), Advisor to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh; Rajesh Nigam, Co-Chair, UP State Chapter, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI); Rajesh Kumar, General Manager, Lucknow Zone, Union Bank of India; Pankaj Kumar, Chief General Manager, NABARD Lucknow; Sanjay Tiwari, Executive Director, BNI Lucknow; Dr. Jatinder Singh, Deputy Secretary General, PHDCCI; Atul Srivastava, Senior Regional Director, UP State Chapter, PHDCCI; and Prof. R.K. Mittal, Vice Chancellor, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University.
UPITEX 2026 is being organised by the Uttar Pradesh State Chapter of PHDCCI in collaboration with the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative and Invest UP, Government of Uttar Pradesh, with support from the Ministry of MSME, Government of India. With participation from over 400 exhibitors, the expo aims to promote local industries, strengthen MSMEs, enhance market access, attract investment and position Uttar Pradesh as a leading industrial and investment destination at both national and global levels.
A special Auto Expo has also been organised as part of UPITEX 2026, showcasing the latest automobile technologies and modern vehicle designs. Visitors are being offered on-site test drive experiences, adding to the attraction of the event.
Radico Khaitan Limited is the event partner for UPITEX 2026, while Business Network International (BNI) Lucknow North Chapter is the principal partner. Union Bank of India is the co-partner. Pavilion partners include Rajesh Masale, Everest Food Products Private Limited and State Bank of India (SBI). The expo is supported by institutions such as the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), National Jute Board, Ministry of Textiles (Government of India), MSME Department of the Government of Madhya Pradesh, NABARD, Khadi and Village Industries Board (Government of Uttar Pradesh), and Gujarat State Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited (Garvi Gurjari – Gujarat ODOP).
Garvi Gurjari is showcasing Gujarat’s rich handloom and handicraft heritage at the expo, while also supporting artisan empowerment and facilitating access to national and inter-state markets under the ODOP framework. Pavilion co-partners include Fena Private Limited, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). Associate partners include the Council for Leather Exports (CLE – India), Patanjali Ayurved Limited and NTPC Limited. Myriad is the food and beverage partner for the event.
Addressing the gathering, Cabinet Minister Rakesh Sachan highlighted the crucial role of MSMEs in achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a “Developed India” and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s target of building a USD 1 trillion economy for Uttar Pradesh. He noted that the ODOP scheme, launched in Uttar Pradesh in 2018, has now been adopted nationwide. He also announced that on the occasion of Uttar Pradesh Day, a new initiative—One District One Cuisine (ODOC)—will be launched to further boost district-level development.
Dr. Jatinder Singh of PHDCCI said that UPITEX 2026 is not just an exhibition, but a meaningful platform for dialogue between industry, policy and markets, reflecting Uttar Pradesh’s rapid emergence as a trusted trade and investment hub. Rajesh Nigam, Co-Chair of the UP State Chapter, PHDCCI, added that the expo aims to create new business opportunities for MSMEs, startups and traditional industries, and the strong response on the very first day reflects its growing importance.
UPITEX 2026 has received an encouraging response from day one, with large visitor turnout and significant interest from buyers, distributors and industry stakeholders. Exhibitors have expressed optimism over the quality of interactions and the increasing participation from both domestic and international markets, underlining the expo’s role in accelerating Uttar Pradesh’s development journey.
