Davos 2026: Investors now keen and comfortable investing in Uttar Pradesh as perception shifts, says state finance minister

• Uttar Pradesh signed MoUs worth over Rs 6 lakh crore at WEF Davos summit
• Investors favored IT, renewable energy, and manufacturing sectors.
• State offers incentives, boosting investor confidence and project execution

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Uttar Pradesh’s investment pitch at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos has received a strong response from global investors, with investors now keen and comfortable investing in the state as perceptions have shifted, state Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said.

Speaking to Moneycontrol, Khanna said he had interacted with nearly 100 investors since the start of the summit, underlining a marked shift in perception about Uttar Pradesh as an investment destination.

“I have spoken to around a hundred people since arriving in Davos. The perception around Uttar Pradesh has changed. Investors are keen to invest and feel comfortable coming to the state,” Khanna said, adding that this change was the outcome of sustained efforts rather than a single event.

He attributed the improved sentiment to significant gains in law and order and the state’s zero-tolerance approach towards crime, which, he said, has been implemented on the ground. “Today, Uttar Pradesh is seen as a safe and secure destination for investment,” the minister said.

Khanna said the state’s policy framework and incentives have also played a crucial role in attracting investor interest. Uttar Pradesh offers land rebates of up to 75-80 percent for foreign direct investment, along with refunds of state GST, exemptions on electricity duty, stamp duty and registration charges, and capital subsidies.

“These policies are designed to facilitate investors at every stage, and that is why we are seeing increased interest,” he said.

Broad-based sectoral interest

According to Khanna, investors at Davos have shown interest across a wide range of sectors, including renewable energy, food processing, data centres, IT and IT-enabled services, defence, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, logistics and warehousing.

With India sending its largest-ever delegation to Davos, including representatives from around 10 states, Khanna said Uttar Pradesh has emerged as one of the strongest performers. “Investors view Uttar Pradesh as a safe and reliable destination,” he said.

He highlighted the state’s ease-of-doing-business platforms-Nivesh Mitra and Nivesh Sarathi-which support investors from initial approvals to project execution. He also pointed to the government’s record in honouring incentive commitments.

“In 2025, we disbursed incentives worth Rs 4,000 crore (around $480 million). All promised incentives were delivered on time, which has boosted investor confidence,” Khanna said. Most investors, he added, are keen to move swiftly from MoUs to on-ground implementation.