In a significant push to attract capital, the Uttar Pradesh government's investment arm, Invest UP, held a high-level strategic dialogue with a large delegation of top corporate executives on Thursday. The meeting with a 45-member CXO (Chief Experience Officer) delegation from the think tank WMG Group saw discussions on investment proposals with a cumulative value of nearly Rs 6,400 crore across a diverse range of sectors.
Showcasing UP's Investment Ecosystem
The interaction, held at the Invest UP headquarters in Lucknow, was chaired by Dr. K V Raju, the Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister. The session was designed to showcase the state's rapidly evolving investment landscape, recent policy reforms, and its infrastructure-led growth model. Senior officials from Invest UP, including CEO and Additional CEO Prerna Sharma, engaged directly with the industry leaders to explore specific opportunities.
Addressing the delegation, Dr. Raju emphasized Uttar Pradesh's core investment philosophy of "value for money." He underlined the government's focus on ensuring strong returns for investors, backed by robust infrastructure, pro-business policies, and comprehensive end-to-end facilitation. He positioned the state as a scalable platform for long-term growth, supported by effective governance and strategic planning.
Multi-Sector Expansion Plans Unveiled
During the detailed interaction, companies from a wide array of sectors presented their expansion plans for Uttar Pradesh. Key sectors represented included:
- Aerospace and Defence
- Global Capability Centres (GCCs)
- Biomanufacturing and Sustainable Technologies
- Hospitality and Healthcare
- Fintech and General Manufacturing
Invest UP officials highlighted the specific policy support available under key frameworks like the Defence Industrial Corridor, the dedicated GCC Policy, the Manufacturing Policy, Tourism Policy, and emerging green energy frameworks. Notably, healthcare firms outlined concrete plans to expand hospital networks in major cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, and Noida. Hospitality players proposed luxury projects in key tourist destinations.
Additionally, companies in skill development, digital infrastructure, and sustainable manufacturing expressed a clear intent to scale up their operations within the state.
Robust Economic Fundamentals and Ease of Business
To set the context, Invest UP officials briefed the delegation on Uttar Pradesh's strong economic fundamentals. They noted that the state is now India's second-largest economy with a Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Rs 30.8 trillion and an impressive growth rate of 13.2% for FY 2025–26.
A major focus was on the state's ease of doing business reforms, spearheaded by the Nivesh Mitra single-window system. Officials revealed that the platform has processed approximately 21 lakh (2.1 million) applications with a remarkable 97% user satisfaction rate. The upcoming Nivesh Mitra 3.0 version is set to further streamline approval processes through AI-enabled automation.
This high-level engagement reflects Uttar Pradesh's proactive and structured approach to investor outreach. The state's clear focus is on converting investment intent into tangible, on-ground implementation, thereby reinforcing its position as a premier destination for sustainable and lucrative growth.
