UP Emerging as Investment and Manufacturing Hub: HM Shah

• Shah says UP is emerging as an investment and manufacturing hub.
• He highlights law and order, industrial policy and infrastructure as investment factors.
• UP’s Defence Corridor and ODOP initiatives were highlighted as growth drivers.
• Shah says the trade show can expand UP’s products and businesses in global markets.

GG News Bureau
Greater Noida, 25th Sept: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Friday inaugurated the fourth Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS) in Greater Noida, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other dignitaries in attendance.

Speaking at the event, Shah linked the trade show with the broader Make in India initiative and said Uttar Pradesh was emerging as an investment and manufacturing centre. He also highlighted the state’s target of becoming a $1 trillion economy.

Shah noted that September 25 marks 12 years since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Make in India initiative. He said the Centre and states had worked over the past 12 years to develop India as a hub for production, design and innovation.

According to Shah, the Indian economy, which he said was counted among the “Fragile 5” 12 years ago, is now among the world’s five largest economies. He attributed the change to policies associated with Make in India and their implementation.

The Home Minister also spoke about political stability and policy continuity, saying Modi had made political stability a hallmark of his tenure as Prime Minister. He said policies had been implemented, reviewed based on experience and modified or supplemented where required.

Shah said Uttar Pradesh had undergone a transformation in its investment environment and attributed it to what he described as the “double-engine government” at the Centre and in the state.

He identified law and order, industrial policy, proactive governance and facilitation of industry as four important elements for creating an investment-friendly environment.

He said the state’s improved infrastructure, including expressways and the Noida Airport, was contributing to the investment ecosystem.

Shah also referred to Uttar Pradesh’s target of developing its economy into a $1 trillion economy, saying the international trade show would provide producers from across the state with greater opportunities to expand trade and production.

The Home Minister highlighted the six nodes of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor — Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Lucknow, Agra, Aligarh and Kanpur.

He said investments in defence manufacturing had increased and cited India’s defence production at ₹1.78 lakh crore. He also said Indian defence products were being exported to 80 countries.

Shah specifically referred to BrahMos missiles manufactured in Uttar Pradesh and AK-203 rifles produced at Amethi while highlighting the state’s contribution to India’s defence manufacturing capabilities.

Shah also highlighted the One District, One Product (ODOP) initiative, saying it had helped traditional products and industries gain wider markets.

He referred to products such as Bhadohi carpets, Moradabad brassware, Firozabad glassware, Saharanpur woodcraft, Kannauj perfumes and Banaras silk sarees as examples of Uttar Pradesh’s traditional economic strengths.

He said ODOP had created opportunities for artisans, small entrepreneurs and small-scale industries and contributed to the state’s economic development.

A website for One District, One Cuisine (ODOC) was also launched during the event. The initiative seeks to promote regional food products, with examples cited by Shah including Varanasi’s Malaiyo and Tiranga Barfi, Agra’s Petha, Mathura’s Peda and Meerut’s Gajak.

Shah said the first edition of UPITS introduced international audiences to developments in Uttar Pradesh, while subsequent editions focused on investment interest and participation. He described the fourth edition as an opportunity for investors and businesses to participate in the state’s development.

The previous edition in 2025, according to Shah, recorded more than 5 lakh visitors, over 2,400 MoUs and investment commitments running into thousands of crores of rupees. He expressed confidence that the 2026 edition would exceed the previous year’s figures.

The trade show is being held at the India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida and brings together businesses and buyers from multiple sectors. Agriculture, automobiles, defence, electronics, information technology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, handicrafts, textiles, tourism, renewable energy, logistics and other industries are represented.

Shah also recalled the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, observed on September 25, and referred to his economic thinking and contribution to organisation-based politics.

The event is scheduled to provide a platform for Uttar Pradesh producers, manufacturers, artisans and businesses to engage with domestic and international buyers and expand their market presence.