States » NorthPosted at: Oct 6 2026 8:04PM


HCL is a partner to establish Lucknow as one of India's leading AI innovation cities: CM Yogi

Lucknow, Oct 6 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that his government is committed to establishing Lucknow as one of India's leading AI innovation cities.
To achieve this, a strong innovation ecosystem will be developed over the next five years, with the government providing full support to at least 50 world-class AI startups to establish themselves in Lucknow, strengthen them, and reach the global market, he said, while addressing a program to mark the 10th anniversary of the HCL Tech Lucknow campus.
The Chief Minister called on HCL Tech to become a partner in this initiative.
The Chief Minister stated that he has extended an offer to HCL.
He emphasized that Lucknow must become not only a hub for IT services, but also a major hub for AI, semiconductors, cybersecurity, computing technology, and deep tech.
To achieve this, the government and industry must work together.
He noted that HCL's five-decade journey began in Uttar Pradesh, with its founder, Shiv Nadar, beginning his work. Today, this journey, which began in Uttar Pradesh, has gained global recognition. Ten years ago, the establishment of the HCL campus in Lucknow, guided by Shiv Nadar's vision, gave this journey a new identity.
The Chief Minister said that HCL chose Lucknow, and Lucknow embraced HCL.
Their shared journey is a matter of pride for Uttar Pradesh today. The Chief Minister said that the success of the HCL campus is linked to the hard work of its employees, along with a mother's prayer, a father's dream, and a family's faith.
When a daughter from Lucknow takes off in her career here, it transforms not only her life but the lives of her entire family. Her success becomes a new path and inspiration for many daughters to come.
He said that ten years ago, the youth of Uttar Pradesh had to travel to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad for better careers.
Today, the situation has changed. Youth from Uttar Pradesh are choosing Lucknow for their careers, and youth from around the world are coming to Uttar Pradesh.
The Chief Minister told HCL employees that they are not only employees of the company, but also brand ambassadors of Uttar Pradesh.
The Chief Minister said that Uttar Pradesh's greatest strength lies in its land and its young and talented workforce.
Today, Uttar Pradesh has the youngest workforce in India, and its talent represents the state's greatest strength, he said, and noted that ten years ago, discussions about Uttar Pradesh's identity were different.
Today, the state's identity has changed. There was once talk of "One District, One Mafia," but today, discussions are about "One District, One Medical College," "One District, One Product," and "One District, One Cuisine."
The Chief Minister noted that the state has seen unprecedented expansion in infrastructure and connectivity. The approximately 1,200-kilometer distance from Ballia to Bijnor can now be covered in about 10 hours, compared to several days a decade ago.
The Chief Minister noted that today, Uttar Pradesh accounts for approximately 55 percent of India's mobile manufacturing, while Uttar Pradesh contributes approximately 60 percent of the country's electronic components.
He stated that the state's exports through IT and ITES were around ₹12,000-15,000 crore a decade ago, but have now exceeded ₹1 lakh crore.
The government aims to increase this to ₹2.5 lakh crore in the next four years.
Similarly, electronics exports, which were around ₹3,800 crore a decade ago, have now increased to ₹45,000 crore.
The target is to reach ₹2 lakh crore by 2030.
The Chief Minister stated that the IT sector is no longer limited to Noida. IT parks operate in Lucknow, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Meerut, and Agra. Seven software technology parks are operational in the state, while new IT parks are being developed in Varanasi, Bareilly, Kanpur, and Gorakhpur. Gautam Buddha Nagar has 12 IT and ITES Special Economic Zones.
Under the new Startup Policy, Noida and Lucknow are being developed as U-Hub (deep tech hubs). Work is also progressing rapidly towards developing the country's first AI City and a comprehensive AI ecosystem in Lucknow.
The Chief Minister also praised HCL's social concerns. He said that HCL Tech has not only done business in Uttar Pradesh, but has also made significant contributions to social development.
Efforts have been made to transform the lives of children through residential campuses and schools in Sitapur and Bulandshahr. He said that in the last 10-11 years, HCL's programs have reached more than five million people and over 3,000 villages.
Work has been done to advance rural women and self-reliance, connect children with better education, and create new opportunities for development in rural areas.
The Chief Minister said that development does not mean simply building large campuses in big cities. Real development is achieved when rural farmers are connected to better technology, sisters and daughters have new livelihood opportunities, village children receive better education and health facilities, and rural youth become part of the new economy and new opportunities.
He said that HCL's global technology campus, on the one hand, and community development programs in villages, on the other—this confluence of global innovation and grassroots development—is the true model of inclusive growth.
The Chief Minister said that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the visionary vision of Digital India to the nation in 2014, opposition parties ridiculed it.
People questioned how a digital revolution would be possible in India. Similarly, when Jan Dhan accounts were opened, they were also ridiculed, asking what would be achieved by opening accounts for the poor. But today, technology is playing a decisive role in delivering 100% benefits to the poor through DBT.
The Chief Minister said that nearly five decades ago, when Shiv Nadar laid the foundation of HCL, people might have questioned how far this initiative would go. However, his visionary vision established HCL as a global company. HCL's global journey, which began from the soil of UP, is a testimony to the fact that big dreams and visionary thinking may be questioned initially, but vision and capability make them a success story before the world.
On this occasion, HCL Group Chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Shiv Nadar Foundation Chairman Shikhar Malhotra, Uttar Pradesh Transformation Commission CEO and outgoing Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, UP IT & Electronics Principal Secretary Alok Kumar and other officers and employees were present.
UNI MBD RN
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