Noida: UP’s expressways, new airports, industrial parks and investments in defence, semiconductors and electronics have put its development journey under the world’s spotlight, Union commerce and industries minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday.Speaking at the event, Goyal said the state had moved beyond its earlier image of weak investor confidence and limited industrial activity. “The entire world will look at Uttar Pradesh’s development journey as an example,” he said.Goyal cited the state’s expanding physical and industrial infrastructure. “The expressways built in the state, new airports, large industrial parks, and investments in modern sectors such as defence, semiconductors and electronics present the picture of a changing Uttar Pradesh,” he said.He also pointed to Noida’s emerging robotics industry as an example of the sectors the state is now trying to attract. “The rapidly developing robotics factory in Noida is an example of how Uttar Pradesh is now establishing a strong identity even in modern and emerging sectors,” he said.Goyal said the change was significant when compared with the situation he encountered in 2017. At that time, he said, concerns over law and order and the business environment had left entrepreneurs hesitant to invest.“Entrepreneurs lacked adequate confidence. There was little enthusiasm for setting up large new industries in the state. Even major industrial centres of the country were not looking towards Uttar Pradesh for investment,” he said.He attributed the change to govt policies and improved administration, saying revenue collection had also risen. “Revenue from various sources has increased manifold and is being utilised for the state’s development,” he said.Goyal was speaking at a special business session on using India’s free trade agreements to expand global business. He said the trade show itself would grow “bigger and more impactful” in the coming years.
