Lucknow, Mar 22 (UNI) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that Uttar Pradesh, with a population of 25 crore, is India's largest consumer market as not only UP but also large populations from Nepal, Bhutan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand rely on the state for their needs.
During a grand Investors Meet held in Lucknow for setting up of a Mega Textile and Apparel Park on 1,000 acres along the Lucknow-Hardoi border under the ambitious 'PM MITRA Scheme' of the central government of India, the CM said, "This park will establish UP as a textile hub and create over 50,000 new jobs."
During the event, he distributed an incentive amount of Rs 210 crore to 80 investors contributing to the state's textile industry under the UP Textile and Apparel Policy 2017. Besides, two Memorandums of Understandings (MoUs) worth Rs 700 crore were signed for the PM MITRA Park.
Addressing investors, Yogi said that the event would play a crucial role in taking UP's textile industry to new heights. He highlighted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, Surat in Gujarat became a textile hub, and now, the same vision is being implemented nationwide with the approval of seven PM MITRA Parks, one of which is in Lucknow.
He said, "This is the only PM MITRA Park in the country being set up in a state capital, The Detailed Project Report (DPR) process for this 1,000-acre park has already begun."
Emphasising the park's strategic location, the CM said that it is adjacent to Lucknow city and well-connected by a six-lane Outer Ring Road, with the state government also providing four-lane connectivity.
He said that clothing is one of life's basic necessities and assured investors that the park would offer integrated facilities for weaving, dyeing, printing, designing and packaging. "This park will help meet market demand and unlock endless possibilities for the textile industry," he said.
Emphasising that the state government directly transferred funds to investors accounts via DBT, Yogi said, "By felicitating investors, we want to send a message that our policies are not just announcements but are implemented with complete honesty."
He said that over 1,000 MoUs have been signed, with 225 projects set for groundbreaking soon, leading to investments exceeding Rs 6,000 crore and creating over 50,000 jobs. Assuring investors of a seamless process, he highlighted the 'Nivesh Mitra' single-window system, which provides over 500 clearances on one platform and 'Nivesh Sarathi' for monitoring MoUs.
The CM highlighted UP's rich textile heritage and said that the older the civilization, the greater is the potential for textiles." He said that ancient cities like Kashi and Ayodhya were not just spiritual centres but also hubs of prosperity.
He said that Kashi, Bhadohi and Mirzapur are renowned for silk and carpets, while Varanasi's sarees remain an integral part of Indian celebrations. "Ayodhya and Ambedkar Nagar are famous for handloom and Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Azamgarh, Mubarakpur and Mau have a deep-rooted textile history. Lucknow's chikankari embroidery has thrived in households for centuries," he said.
He credited the One District, One Product (ODOP) scheme for reviving these traditional industries, ensuring a steady flow of orders. He announced that apart from the PM MITRA Park, the state government will set up 10 new textile parks named after Sant Kabir Das and two leather parks in honour of Sant Ravidas.
He said that the PM MITRA Park will be developed based on Prime Minister Modi's 5F model, including Farm to Fiber, Fiber to Factory, Factory to Fashion and Fashion to Foreign, ensuring a seamless production-to-export process at a single location.
Yogi highlighted UP's excellent connectivity as a major attraction for investors. He said that UP is the only state with the highest number of expressways and after the completion of the Ganga Expressway, 55 percent of the country's expressways will be in the state.
He said, "We have the best railway network in the country. India's first inland waterway from Varanasi to Haldia is now operational."
He said that a dedicated freight corridor and Greenfield Expressway between Lucknow and Kanpur will soon be available. He emphasised that with an international airport already in place in Lucknow, the notion of UP being a landlocked state is outdated, as the government is ensuring easy access to ports.
Speaking about the state’s economic progress, the CM expressed pride in UP's rapid growth. "Today, UP is India’s second-largest economy and by 2029 we will make it a one-trillion-dollar economy," he said.
He mentioned that UP contributes 13 percent to the country’s textile production, ranking third in India and providing employment to over 2 million people. "Institutions such as NIFT in Rae Bareli, the Textile Technology Institute in Kanpur and the Indian Institute of Apparel Technology in Varanasi are strengthening the sector," he said.
Yogi highlighted the presence of leading textile companies like Arvind Mills, TT Group, Ganesha Ecosphere, Bharat Overseas and NINE, which are already operating in the state. He assured investors that UP offers a highly favorable investment environment.
He said, "In the past eight years, we have introduced 35 sectoral policies, ensuring a secure land bank, strong connectivity, and robust legal protection for your capital," he said.
He urged investors to contribute to making UP a textile hub through the PM MITRA Park. "With a population of 140 crore, why should India lag behind Bangladesh (16 crore) in ready-made garments? We have top-notch training, designing, and packaging facilities," he said.
The CM expressed confidence that the PM MITRA Park and the upcoming textile and leather parks will elevate UP's position in the textile and apparel industry. "I welcome all investors and believe that you will help bring PM Modi’s vision to reality. The Investors' Meet marks a significant step towards establishing UP as a textile hub," he said.
UNI AB BD