UP flags ease of doing biz climate to attract industry

PWD Minister showcases 'unlimited' potential in UP with its large consumer market

The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government on Wednesday said pro-industry initiatives taken by the dispensation had improved the ease-of-doing-business climate in the state and instilled confidence among industrialists.

Addressing the 6th edition of Samriddhi 2016, a conference organised by Business Standard here, UP Public Works Department Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav claimed that setting up industrial units was easy now. He said the market potential in UP was unlimited, with its large consumer market. “The Samajwadi Party government has delivered on the welfare front and also paved the way for overall development of UP. Today, big industrial houses are investing in the state and actively partnering and cooperating in this process.”

The minister said a new revenue code had eased the process of land acquisition for industrial and infrastructure purposes.

In his address, UP Planning Commission member, Sudhir Panwar, said agriculture and industry could work together to multiply the farm sector’s growth rate.

Later, a panel comprising senior bureaucrats, industrialists and bankers discussed issues concerning the state’s development. The panelists included UP Agricultural Production Commission chief Pravir Kumar, UP Expressway Industrial Development Authority Chairman and CEO Navneet Sehgal, Principal Secretary-Industries Mahesh Kumar Gupta, UP State Industrial Development Corporation Managing Director Manoj Singh, Jet Knitwears Private Ltd Managing Director Balram Narula and Union Bank of India General Manager L D Rewatkar.

Pravir Kumar said despite being a landlocked state, UP was working towards capitalising its strengths for faster economic and agricultural growth. “We have skilled manpower, fertile land and we make a significant contribution to India in terms of agricultural production. However, we need industries for value-addition in the agricultural sector,” he said.

Almost 25-30 per cent of the state’s farm production was wasted due to inadequate pre- and post-harvest techniques. “Mere ramping up of agricultural production would not help farmers, unless their incomes also go up, with support from industry in food processing and value-addition.”

Gupta said the new expressways being built by the state government would provide faster connectivity and encourage industries to move beyond Noida and Greater Noida.

Singh said UPSIDC had acquired 4,200 acres in UP, and notified an additional 1,76,000 acres for future industrial and cluster development.

Sehgal said the various road projects in the state were progressing at a fast pace and meeting deadlines.

Narula suggested simplification of the rules pertaining to clearances and no-objection certificates.