Described as one of the most ancient cradles of Indian culture, Uttar Pradesh under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath holds the biggest potential of investment for almost every sector, writes Arpit Gupta of Elets News Network (ENN).
Spread over 2,40,928 sq.km area and having a population of 200 million people, the State of Uttar Pradesh is the rainbow land where the multi- hued Indian culture has blossomed from time immemorial. Blessed with a variety of geographical land and cultural diversities, this north Indian State holds a big scope for innumerable avenues. In an endeavour to explore this treasure trove of unexplored opportunities, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has organised UP Investors Summit 2018 in Lucknow. Bringing together business leaders, corporate houses, policymakers and representations from around the world, the Summit aims to focus on ushering in a new era of economic vibrancy in Uttar Pradesh.
Talking about the State steadily becoming investment-friendly, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said: “A year ago if we talked of investing in Uttar Pradesh, investors used to get frightened owing to the law and order situation. However, ever since I took over, there has been a positive environment. Various facilities are being given to investors by the State government to establish business in the State.” Stating that the State government has spruced up the law and order machinery and also strengthened the infrastructure facilities, “Industrial Investment and Employment Promotion Policy as well as sector- wise policies have been promulgated which contain attractive provisions for establishment of industries.”
With a transparent administrative system being a key need for business fraternity, the UP government is paying a serious attention on this aspect. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dr Dinesh Sharma said, “We will provide a good and transparent environment for our investors with zero tolerance for corruption and crime…With our government’s approach of ‘zero tolerance’ to crime and corruption, we have been able to create a fearless environment for investors.” “After considering and studying policies of various States, we have formulated our new industrial policy, which will encourage investments in Uttar Pradesh.
The State wants to promote its rich cultural heritage and religious and tourism potential,” he added. Asked what should motivate investors in Uttar Pradesh, State Industrial Development Minister Satish Mahana said: “Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityananth Ji is determined to play a pivotal role in development of the country. In the changing scenario, the State has become an attractive investment destination for entrepreneurs from the country and the world.
“The present State government will provide all necessary facilities and protection to entrepreneurs by implementing investment- friendly policies,” he added. The Industrial I n v e s t – ment & E m – ployment Promotion Policy of Uttar Pradesh 2017 will be unveiled at the Uttar Pradesh Investment Summit 2018 that envisions establishing Uttar Pradesh as a nationally and internationally competitive investment destination thereby generating employment and igniting economic growth of the State, said Minister of State (Independent Charge) Sugarcane Development, Sugar Mills and Minister of State Industrial Development, Suresh Rana.
“A dedicated Single Window Clearance Department directly under the Chief Minister’s Office has been created, which will be the sole interface of the Government for providing all industrial services/ clearances/ approvals/ permissions/ licenses online,” he said. Uttar Pradesh, with a huge populace, offers a huge market and provides a good lot of skilled hands. Establishing industries in the State will lead to job creation at a large scale and provide opportunities to investors, according to State’s Infrastructure & Industrial Development Commissioner Dr Anup Chandra Pandey.
“We are determined to make Uttar Pradesh a nationally and internationally preferred investment destination, thereby generating maximum direct and indirect employment and self- employment for both skilled and unskilled workforce,” he said. According to Uttar Pradesh’s Minister for Industrial Development Satish Mahana, “Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath ji has a vision behind organising Uttar Pradesh Investors Summit 2018 that we should invite industrialists within the country to invest in Uttar Pradesh, as “they are the real ambassadors” to spread message across the world.
The investment from global players will automatically come when Indian industries will start believing that Uttar Pradesh is one of the preferred destinations.
Initiatives taken towards UP Investors Summit 2018
The State Government took multiple steps on various fronts to invigorate the investor confidence in the State in the run up to the UP Investors Summit 2018. These initiatives have generated a huge interest about the State in the investor fraternity. Some of the prominent initiatives undertaken are –
A. Investor-friendly policies In addition to an umbrella industrial policy, the State has come up with various sector specific policies offering attractive fiscal & non-fiscal incentives.
The policies launched till now includes –
- Industrial Investment & Employment Promotion Policy (IIEPP) 2017
- UP Food Processing Policy 2017 l IT & Start-up Policy 2017
- Electronics Manufacturing Policy 2017 l UP Solar Energy Policy 2017
- Civil Aviation Policy of UP 2017
- Handloom, Power-loom, Silk, Textile and Garmenting Policy 2017
The State Government is all set to formulate sectoral policies such as:
Aerospace & Defence
- Pharmaceuticals
- Electric Vehicle
- Warehousing & Logistics
- Tourism Policy
- Film Policy
- Dairy Industry Policy
- Khadi & Village Industries policy
Roadshows
As a precursor to the UP Investors Summit 2018, the State government had organised roadshows in various cities to interact with key industrialists across focus sectors of the State. High-level delegations comprising of Chief Minister, Ministers and Senior Government officials visited New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata and met potential investors to discuss their future investments plans. Single Window System The Government of Uttar Pradesh has undertaken many pragmatic reforms in the area of ease of doing business to assist investors establish and/or operate their business in the State. To assist and provide ease to the investors and entrepreneurs for investment, establishment and smoothly carry out the focus sectors of the State. High-level delegations comprising of Chief Minister, Ministers and Senior Government officials visited New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata and met potential investors to discuss their future investments plans.
Single Window System
The Government of Uttar Pradesh has undertaken many pragmatic reforms in the area of ease of doing business to assist investors establish and/or operate their business in the State. To assist and provide ease to the investors and entrepreneurs for investment, establishment and smoothly carry out the mobile Application would provide ‘On the Go’ facility for users to access single window anywhere, anytime.
Ease of Doing Business
All the relevant departments of the State at the cutting edge of doing business in the state have implemented various business and process reforms to enable easy set up and operations of industries in Uttar Pradesh. Some of the prominent reforms implemented by various departments are as follows:
Infrastructure & Industrial Development Department
- Strengthened Single Window System
“Nivesh Mitra”, the Single Window Portal of the State, enables online application submission, payments, tracking of status, approvals and issuance of certificate(s) for more than 75 services of 12 Departments– Labour, MSMEs, pollution Control Board, Commercial Tax, Energy, Fire Safety, Forest, Food Safety &Drug Administration, PIC UP, Revenue and Urban Development and Weights &Measures.
- Open & Collaborative environment
- Comprehensive checklist, applicable procedures and timelines of all required pre-establishment No Objection Certificates (NOCs), licenses, registrations and other mandatory State approvals are available online.
- Draft business regulation is being published online to invite public comments / feedback prior to enactment. Feedbacks received are considered for finalization of business regulations.
- Online Land Bank Allotment & Availability
- GIS enabled online land bank data has been made available transparently to investors in Industrial Areas of UPSIDC, Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority, Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, etc.
- Online access to master plans/ zonal plans & land use plan.
Labour Department
In the spirit of encouraging industry in a fearless and transparent environment some key initiatives are:
Reduced Inspection
Mandatory online filing of Single Integrated Return for all Labour related Acts
Integrated joint inspection made mandatory for all Labour related Acts
Inspection through randomized risk based selection without any subjectivity involved in selection of establishments
End-to-end computerisation
All services of Labour Department made online by removing physical touch points
Self-certification /third party certification for boilers during use u/s 34 (3) of the Boilers Act, 1923, by persons having requisite qualification and experience
Improved Transparency
Well-defined inspection procedure and checklist available on departmental website
Computerised allocation of Inspectors
Online submission and accessibility of inspection report within 48 hours.
Conclusively stating, the Government of Uttar Pradesh seems resolute and futuristic in focussing on industrial or investment aspects of the State, the UP Investors Summit 2018 bespeaks it loud and clear.
Objective of the summit
This first of its kind summit’s primary objectives are meant to clarify investors myths and misperceptions about UP and improve the State’s image as an investment destination and reinforce UP’s advantage/ strengths/ value proposition based on hard facts and data to appeal to investors’ rationale.
Others objectives include:
• Make investors aware of recent policy reforms/new initiatives to improve the business climate
• Create visibility and demonstrate pro-activeness and seriousness of State’s leadership to investment attraction
• Kick-start dialogue with investors to put UP on their long list (exploratory) and short-list (in case of projects)
• Discuss concrete investment proposals with interested investors and reassure them of UP’s support
FOCUS SECTORS
The UP Government’s focus sectors of the State include:
• Agro & food processing
• Dairy
• Handloom & textile,
• Micro Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
• IT/ ITeS and Start-up
• Electronics manufacturing
• Film
• Tourism
• Civil aviation and
• Renewable energy
In addition, the State is also focusing on sunrise sectors like:
• Aerospace & Defence
• Electric Vehicles
• Pharmaceuticals
• Logistic & Warehousing
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