UP an attractive destination for investors now
PRESIDENT RAMNATH KOVIND WILL BE THE CHIEF GUEST AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE SUMMIT WHICH WILL FOR THE FIRST TIME HAVE SESSIONS ON DEFENCE MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL SECURITY.
Arepresentative of a top industrial group from Gujarat, during his recent visit to Lucknow, was welcomed by a series of pleasant surprises. “I can’t believe that the system has changed so much in UP,” he said. In fact, his perception about UP started changing the time he met officials from the state during its roadshow in Ahmedabad last month.
“The state had a very unflattering image due to corruption and red tape. But our perception changed when representatives from our group met UP officials during the roadshow held as a precursor to the investors’ summit. A top officer made it clear at the onset that the chief minister was directly monitoring all the projects, therefore there is no question of any kickback from those wanting to invest in UP,” he said, adding “now that I have met CM Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow, I could get the reason for the sudden metamorphosis. This is a fine example how a competent leadership affects the entire system.”
UP is hosting the investors’ summit on such a large scale for the first time. Some past attempts during previous governments in Mumbai and Agra were half-hearted and failed to generate any tangible result. But now the faces of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Adityanath are reassuring for investors on the law and order front.
This is the reason the state has received investment proposals of more than Rs 2 lakh crore even before the start of the summit to be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on February 21. Besides, 18 Union ministers will take part in various sessions over two days.
President Ramnath Kovind will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the summit which will for the first time have sessions on defence manufacturing and industrial security.
Under chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh has everything that can draw investors – a better law and order situation, availability of cheap land, power and workforce, and a friendly government. The firm resolve with which Yogi Adityanath has cracked down on crime has resulted in a vastly improved atmosphere. The sea change is also the result of the introduction of a new work culture. For this, Yogi Adityanath leads by example: getting up at 3 am; on the job after 7 am and keeps working till midnight. His own daily routine ever since Yogi took over as the CM was enough to drive home the message about his intention.
Prominent industrialist Prakash Hinduja, who met the CM in Mumbai during the roadshow, said a change for the better was visible in UP. The Hinduja Group wants to set up a plant near Lucknow for manufacturing Ashok Leyland trucks. Similarly, Mukesh Ambani has evinced interest in retail while the Mahindra group will invest in agriculture, automobile and logistic park, Sun Pharma in Pharma City and Torrent Group in the pharma hub.
Not only this, people from the state settled outside are showing willingness to come back and set up plants near their own villages and districts. The MoUs worth Rs 3,000 crore of such small projects have already landed. This figure could be small, but its implications are big – improved conditions have attracted non-resident UPites and they are now willing to come back to their roots.
Even Yogi’s detractors now acknowledge three major achievements of his government — first, loan waiver for farmers, second, right price for farmers’ produce and timely online payment and third, crackdown on criminals. One can also add more availability of power to this list.
Crime and corruption were two biggest bogeys for potential investors in the past. The Yogi government has exorcised them both. Now, due to strict vigil, no government official can dare ask for kickback from any investor. Besides, a secretary-level officer is being linked to all proposals worth Rs 100 crore and more to ensure that such projects face no roadblocks.
If one compares the steps taken by the Yogi government with the previous ones’, the change is clearly visible. The problem is of perception. Politicians, political parties, intellectuals all need to shun their preconceived notions to see this change. After successful completion of investors’ summit when Yogi Government completes one year in office, this change will be more widespread.