UP inks MoUs worth Rs.54,606 crore with investors

Twenty memoranda of understanding (MoU) worth around Rs.54,606 crore were signed by 23 companies in the inaugural session of an investor conclave organized by the Uttar Pradesh government in New Delhi Thursday, officials said.

These companies include Essel Group, Reliance Jio, ITC, Amity, Fortis, River Engineering Pvt. Ltd., Sonalika, Uflex, JVL Agro Industries, Shree Cement, Azure Power, KRIBHCO, Ultrafairwood, Reekriti Food Park, Samprash Foods & Beverages Marketing Pvt. Ltd, UP Food And Logistics Park P Ltd, Duncan Goenka Group and GAIL.

Diplomats of six countries -- Canada, the Netherlands, Turkey, Poland, Italy and Taiwan -- also attended the conclave and held discussions with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for exploring investment possibilities in the state. 

In his keynote address, Yadav said that apart from being a frontrunner in production of milk, potato and wheat, UP was a leading state in power cogeneration, sugar production and skill development.

"We launched U.P. Skill Development Mission recently and within six months, more than 40 lakh youth were mobilised," he added. 

Assuring the delegates present of quality power supply, Yadav said it was crucial to get coal linkages for power generation projects already proposed.

 He further added that he was willing to spare as much time for facilitating industrial and infrastructure investment in UP as possible for enabling the holistic development of the state.

The chief minister interacted with marquee investors on one-to-one basis and the discussions were followed up by the chief secretary and principal secretaries of the departments concerned. 

The conclave is being seen as an attempt by the Samajwadi Party (SP) to knock off the drubbing it received in the recent Lok Sabha elections and a recent spurt in crime against women which has tainted the image of the Akhilesh Yadav government.