Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a defence industrial corridor in Bundelkhand to bring about development in one of the most backward regions of Uttar Pradesh.
"I want to make an important announcement that one of the two defence industrial corridors mentioned in Union budget will be at Bundelkhand region of UP and will bring an investment of Rs 20,000 crore and generate employment for 2.5 lakh people," Prime Minister, Narendra Modi said while inaugurating `UP Investor’s Summit 2018’ in Lucknow.
Stressing that the UP government has vast potential, Modi said, "When there is positive change it’s visible and the convergence of so many captains of industry is an achievement in itself. "The path of development agenda requires policy, planning, performance to bring progress and both Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the people of the state are ready to give thir 'super hit' performance.’’
Terming holding of Investor's Summit and congregation of industrialists as a sign of a big change, Modi said that the Yogi government has overcome previous negativity and shown a ray of hope to people.
"Uttar Pradesh has values and virtues, but it also needs value addition," the PM said lauding the new policy ‘One district, one product' of Yogi government and said that it could prove to be the game changer for the state.
The Prime Minister also said that international airports will come up in Jewar and Kushinagar.
He said that the governments at the Centre and the state focusses not only on job-centric growth but also people-centric growth. "We will try building such infrastructure in the 21st century that will take the state to new heights. We are giving importance to ease of living as well as ease of business. For the development of new India and new UP, we not only require new hope but also new investments," he added.
On the occasion, the PM did not forget to mention the coming Kumbh Mela at Allahabad in January next year.
"Tourism has become a huge industry in itself. The Kumbh Mela in Prayag will be the largest congregation of its kind and we need to ensure that people from across the globe participate in it. We should ensure that every country has its representatives at Kumbh," he said.
Modi, who recently participated in a similar investors summit in Mumbai, said, "Maharashtra has set a target of trillion dollar economy. I set this challenge before UP to compete with Maharashtra and let us see who achieves the target first. If the competition grows fierce, it will not only attract more investments and create more job opportunities but also strengthen cooperative federalism.’’
While appreciating the Yogi government for its initiative of formulating new policies for different sectors, the PM said that the Chief Minister himself will monitor the execution of the MoUs signed.
"Earlier there was an atmosphere of negativity and people lived in fear and insecurity. Development could never take place in such an environment. I appreciate Yogi Adityanath for making positive change in the state which will lead to the dawn of a new era in UP,’’ said Modi.
"Investors will see red carpet and not red tape now. Yogi Adityanath is making policies keeping this in mind. The government is making policies for the welfare of farmers, women and youth. Our government will ensure that benefits of the ongoing structural and policy changes reach those at the lowest rung of the society,” the PM said.
“The Prime Minister Kisan Property Scheme has been introduced by the Union government to reduce crop-grain-fruits and waste of vegetables. The supply chain and infrastructure were being modernized under this scheme which will help in doubling farmer’s income by 2022," he asserted.
The PM said UP has tremendous potential in tourism sector.
" I am sure the new tourism policy announced by the state government would facilitate investments in this sector. Kumbh Mela can add to this growth. Tourism is a multiplier for growth. UP needs to strengthen its eco-tourism," the PM said.
In his one-hour speech, the PM said that UP ranked number one in the country in production of food grains, wheat, sugarcane, milk, potato production and it was number two in vegetable production and third in fruit production. " So no one can stop it state from achieving its target of growth," he said.
Welcoming guests at the 'UP Investors Summit', the Prime Minister said, ``We have former Mauritius President / PM Sir Aniroodh Jugnauth and investors from across the globe at the Summit. The fact that this summit could happen at such a large-scale is a big achievement for the state. I would like to congratulate the leadership and the people of the state for achieving this."
Earlier, as a foreign delegate senior Mauritian politician Sir Aniroodh Jugnauth said that Mauritius was willing to become a partner in UP in promotion of religious tourism and strengthening agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors. “We have blood relationship with India and now during the Modi regime, the tie between both countries have strengthened further," he said.
The Mauritius leader, who is heading a high-level delegation of his country, also thanked the PM for giving land for the construction UP- Mauritius Pravasi Bharat building in Varanasi. The country is among the seven countries, who are partners of 'UP Investors Summit'.
More than 200 industrialists and businessmen including Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Subhash Chandra, Kumar Mangalam Birla and M Chandrashekharan are participating in the Summit.