How has Invest UP evolved as the state's nodal agency for investment promotion, and what do you see as its most defining role in shaping Uttar Pradesh's growth story over the next decade?

Over the past few years, Invest UP has evolved from a facilitation desk into a strategic powerhouse driving Uttar Pradesh's investment narrative. As the state's nodal agency, Invest UP has transformed into a robust singlewindow platform that not only streamlines approvals but also actively shapes policy, identifies sectoral opportunities, and handholds investors from ideation to implementation.

Invest UP's most defining role in the coming decade will be to anchor Uttar Pradesh's journey toward becoming a $1 trillion economy. This entails catalyzing investments in high-value sectors, integrating global best practices, and ensuring that every district-urban or rural contributes meaningfully to the state's industrial and employment growth.

Uttar Pradesh has made significant strides in strengthening its business infrastructure-from industrial corridors and logistics hubs to digital service platforms. What kind of feedback are you receiving from investors on these developments, and what are the next steps to further enhance the Ease of Doing Business in the state?

Investor feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. They've commended the scale and speed of infrastructure development from expressways and freight corridors to the upcoming Jewar Airport and integrated logistics parks. The digital backbone, especially platforms like Nivesh Mitra and Nivesh Sarathi, has been widely appreciated for reducing procedural friction.

Next steps include:

• Upgrading Nivesh Mitra 3.0, India's largest single - window platform, to offer a unified dashboard integrating land availability, incentive tracking, and grievance redressal. With over 525 services across 44 departments and a 97% approval resolution rate, Nivesh Mitra has earned UP the distinction of being a 'Top Achiever' nationally for ease of doing business.

• Expanding Udyami Mitra outreach, with set targets for ground-breaking support and strategic training for investor capacity building, in collaboration with General Manager of the District Industries Centre for localized assistance.

• Invest UP is establishing sector-specific facilitation cells to address the nuanced needs of industries such as semiconductors and Global Capability Center (GCC), alongside dedicated international desks for Japan, South Korea, Germany, etc. to attract targeted global investments.

• Strengthening district-level investment promotion committees to decentralize decision- making and accelerate approvals.

Invest UP's most defining role in the coming decade will be to anchor Uttar Pradesh's journey toward becoming a $1 trillion economy.

In emerging sectors such as Global Capability Centres (GCC), agro-packaging, and electrical/electronics, what unique strengths does Uttar Pradesh offer to investors that differentiates it from other states?

Global Capability Centers (GCCs) have evolved from back-end cost centers into strategic hubs for innovation, technology, and operations. Uttar Pradesh offers a rare blend of scale, talent, and infrastructure that few states can match.

Global Capability Centres (GCCs):

• UP boasts a robust talent ecosystem, cost-effective infrastructure, and the recently launched GCC Policy 2024 one of the most comprehensive incentive packages in the country. With over 2 lakh STEM graduates annually, more than 8,000 higher education institutions, and a cost arbitrage of up to 40% compared to established hubs, UP is emerging as a premier GCC destination. Policy benefits include capital and payroll subsidies, EPF reimbursements, and dedicated support cells for seamless investor onboarding.

• The state government has emphasized the role of real estate players through the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI) and Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 in creating infrastructure and plug-and-play spaces to support the GCC ecosystem. The model follows a hub-and-spoke approach, with Noida as the global hub, Lucknow as an emerging center, and tier-2 cities like Agra, Meerut, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, and Prayagraj as satellite nodes, backed by targeted fiscal incentives under the GCC Policy 2024.

Agro-Packaging:

• As India's leading producer of wheat, milk, and sugar, UP offers unmatched raw material availability. Combined with mega food parks, cold chain infrastructure, and One District One Product (ODOP) clusters, the state is primed for agro-packaging innovation and export-led growth.

Electrical/Electronics

• UP's Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) ecosystem is thriving, with over 200 companies including Samsung, Haier, and Oppo-already operational. The upcoming Semiconductor Park, a JV between HCL and Foxconn, along with data center clusters in Noida, further reinforce UP's position as a high-tech manufacturing hub.

Given India's growing network of Free Trade Agreements with partners such as the UAE and UK, and negotiations underway with Australia and Oman-global opportunities are expanding rapidly. How is Invest UP working to ensure that smaller enterprises, MSMEs, and rural districts are equipped to leverage these opportunities and contribute to sustaining the state's industrial momentum?

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) unlock global opportunities-but only if our enterprises are empowered to seize them. Invest UP is committed to ensuring that MSMEs and rural industries are not left behind in this evolving trade landscape. Uttar Pradesh, home to over 90 lakh MSMEs, is leveraging the World Bank-supported Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme to enhance access to global markets, credit, and technology. To support small-scale manufacturing, Invest UP is promoting flatted factory models across Greater Noida and other districts, offering plug-and-play infrastructure tailored to MSME needs. International roadshows are also planned to showcase sector-specific policies and attract targeted global investments.

The flagship One District One Product (ODOP) initiative is gaining international recognition for its unique offerings, now further amplified through strategic tie-ups with leading e-commerce platforms that provide global market access. The Udyami Mitra network is being trained to guide entrepreneurs through export documentation, compliance, and the nuances of FTA benefits.

Invest UP is actively promoting cluster-based export strategies particularly in ODOP sectors to help rural artisans and manufacturers scale globally. To ensure widespread awareness and participation, Invest UP is working closely with Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM) Bank and Director General of Foreign Trade(DGFT) to organize FTA-focused workshops across districts, empowering even the smallest enterprises to confidently navigate and benefit from international trade agreements.

On a more personal note, how has your journey as the Additional CEO of Invest UP shaped your role in driving investments and reforms in the state? What are the key areas you have found most rewarding, and which have been the most challenging so far?

Journey at Invest UP has been defined by hands-on leadership in streamlining investor facilitation and catalysing industrial growth. Among the most rewarding aspects have been fostering a robust business ecosystem, enabling MSME expansion, and showcasing Uttar Pradesh's strengths at national industry forums where tangible improvements in investor sentiment and ease of doing business have become increasingly evident.

The challenges have largely revolved around removing systemic bottlenecks and reshaping perceptions to position Uttar Pradesh as a preferred investment destination. This includes navigating complex administrative procedures, promoting good governance, and ensuring grassroots-level awareness so that entrepreneurs across the state can fully benefit from policy reforms Implementing strategic monitoring mechanisms and driving investment promotion at the district level have required rigorous review and adaptation to local dynamics. Notably, efforts to integrate AI-driven systems and leverage CM Udyami Mitras stationed at IDAs and district offices through targeted capacity building have been instrumental. Addressing land allotment issues and streamlining approvals remain ongoing priorities in this reform journey.

You recently participated in the Annual Directors' Conclave 2025 in New Delhi, hosted by Institute of Directors (IOD). Could you share your experience from that Conclave, and what insights you found most relevant for Uttar Pradesh's investment and governance landscape?

Participating in the Annual Directors' Conclave 2025 in New Delhi, hosted by the Institute of Directors (IOD), was a valuable experience that underscored the evolving priorities in investment and governance across India.

What resonated most was the emphasis on sustainable growth and global competitiveness, backed by a clear roadmap for inclusive development.

For anyone engaged in strategic communication or policy advocacy, the Conclave offered actionable perspectives on how governance and investment promotion can work hand-in-hand to drive long-term impact.

Looking ahead, what are the top three priorities you believe will define Uttar Pradesh's investment climate in the next five years?

Looking Over the next five years, three strategic priorities will decisively shape Uttar Pradesh's investment climate and accelerate its transformation into a global economic powerhouse:

Infrastructure Modernization as a Growth Catalyst

Infrastructure development remains the cornerstone of Uttar Pradesh's investment strategy. The expansion of expressways, airports, logistics hubs, and rapid transit systems is creating seamless connectivity across industrial corridors, unlocking new opportunities for domestic and global investors. These projects are not just physical assets they are enablers of economic velocity and regional competitiveness.

Deepening Policy Reforms and Governance Efficiency

Uttar Pradesh is intensifying its reform momentum with over 33 sector-specific policies and a strong focus on Ease of Doing Business (EoDB). Key initiatives include strategic training of CM Udyami Mitras, industrial land pooling, operationalizing inland waterways, and enhancing digital governance through integrated single- window platforms. These reforms are designed to eliminate bottlenecks, improve transparency, and make the investment journey frictionless and investor-centric.

Innovation, Talent, and Future-Ready Industries

The state is investing heavily in innovation and human capital to lead in emerging sectors. Initiatives such as the development of AI City, Centers of Excellence, and the promotion of Global Capability Centers (GCCs) are positioning Uttar Pradesh at the forefront of artificial intelligence, IT/ITES, MedTech, and renewable energy. By harnessing its demographic dividend through targeted skill development, the state is building a future-ready workforce aligned with global industry demands.

Together, these priorities are laying the foundation for a resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive investment ecosystem making Uttar Pradesh an ideal destination for industrial, technological, and entrepreneurial growth.

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