India's economic progress wedded to UP's growth: Akhilesh

The economic progress of India was tied to that of Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said here on Friday.

In his adress after inaugurating a conference on 'Uttar Pradesh @Double Digit Growth: Unfolding Investment Opportunities,' organised by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), he also said that with proper infrastructure and policies and a conducive business environment, the state can attain double-digit growth.

Akhilesh Yadav also listed the various initiatives taken by his government in the past four years to strengthen and expand the infrastructure and work on developing key sectors.

"One cannot see India progressing if Uttar Pradesh's contribution to the country's economy is removed," he said.

He also sought to address the perception that nothing was right in the state, claiming that there was a conducive atmosphere for the industry in the state and it was for this reason that people were investing in Uttar Pradesh.

Terming his government "very liberal and easily accessible," he said that it was for these reasons that the outlook of the industry and the world had changed immensely about the state.

"There are so many states that only talk about starting metro rail but have not succeeded. However a huge state like UP is undertaking metro rail work in Noida, Ghaziabad, and Lucknow and we will soon start construction in Kanpur and if all goes well, we will start metro work in prime minister's constituency of Varanasi," added the UP chief minister.

"This has the potential to change our image, increase business and bring change," he added while reiterating his commitment to further develop Noida as a bustling international financial hub for which he was ready to work with the union government.