Akhilesh rolls out red carpet to UP diaspora

Inaugurates maiden UP Pravasi Diwas in Agra

Rolling out the red carpet to the Uttar Pradesh diaspora settled globally, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav today inaugurated the maiden 'UP Pravasi Diwas' in the Taj City of Agra.

With only about a year left for the next assembly elections in early 2017, the state government is virtually on an overdrive to woo industrialists and investors, both domestic and foreign.

The Agra event, organised in consort with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), is in the same direction. About 200 UP origin diaspora is participating in the January 4-6 extravaganza.

In his inaugural address, Yadav noted the presence of the large number of UP NRIs had displayed their willingness to connect with their roots. "The event has a great importance as this is the first large-scale engagement of the government with the UP diaspora."

The event not only seeks to network with the large UP diaspora for investment, collaboration and cooperation, it is also an exercise to promote 'Brand UP' amongst industrialists and investors globally.

The exposition would comprise mega infrastructure projects viz. Lucknow-Agra Expressway, Lucknow Metro, metro projects in NOIDA and Greater NOIDA, Trans-Ganga City at Kanpur, Hi-tech Township in Allahabad, solar parks in Jalaun and other places, Lucknow IT City, integrated industrial cities of NOIDA and Greater Noida and the upcoming electronic manufacturing hubs.

Meanwhile, Yadav conferred 16 Non Resident Indians (NRIs) of prominence with 'UP Apravasi Bharatiya Ratna Award' and dedicated to public a Migrant Resource Centre, set up at UP Financial Corporation (UPFC), Lucknow.

The feted NRIs included former Trinidad & Tobago prime minister Basdeo Panday, UK Member of the House of Lords and healthcare professional Khalid Hameed, President of Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (International) Ashok Ramsaran (USA), entrepreneur, philanthropist and writer Frank F Islam (USA), singer and philanthropist Alka Bhatnagar (USA), entrepreneur Kanwal Rekhi (USA), emergency medicine specialist Krishan Kumar (USA), venture capitalist & healthcare professional Nandini Tandon (USA), material scientist Nath Singh (USA), venture capitalist, research scientist and philanthropist Talat F Hasan (USA) etc.

On the occasion, 11 NRI organisations and two banks also signed MoUs with the state government to cooperate in trade and social sector. These included Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO); South Pacific University, Fiji; Indo Canadian Chambers of Commerce (ICCC), Toronto; India Trade & Exhibition Centre (ITEC) Sharjah; Indian Business & Professional Council (IBPC) Dubai; Uttar Pradeshies In Canada (UPICA); Nadeem Tarin Education Society (NTES); India Association of Japan (IAJ); WTC Noida Development Company; Uttar Pradesh Association of North America (UPANA); Panorama India; Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI) Bank; and HDFC Bank.

While the inaugural day is dedicated to cultural programmes, January 5 would mark the process of holding dialogue and interaction with the NRIs. On January 6, the state government would facilitate the delegates' visits to Taj Mahal and other tourist spots in Agra and Mathura.

The government would showcase its flagship infrastructure and industrial projects as well as traditional handicrafts and delicacies of UP.