UP Govt promises stronger investment pitch after industry flags lack of global outreach

Pankaj Mahindroo, chairman of the India Cellular and Electronics Association, said Uttar Pradesh has improved its electronics manufacturing base but still lags other states in overseas investor engagement.

The Uttar Pradesh government will step up global investment outreach after industry leaders flagged that ministers and bureaucrats need to travel more aggressively to attract investors.

Responding to the concerns, Anurag Yadav, Principal Secretary for the Department of IT and Electronics, in India’s largest state, said the government has taken the feedback seriously and has already begun strengthening its outreach strategy.

“We now have a dedicated industry program to do all kinds of outreach. Even, for example, tomorrow we are having another program related to electronic manufacturing,” said Yadav at the UP Tech Next Electronics and Semiconductor Summit in Lucknow, hosted by CNBC-TV18 and Moneycontrol.

He was responding to Pankaj Mahindroo, chairman of the India Cellular and Electronics Association, who said Uttar Pradesh has improved its electronics manufacturing base but still lags other states in overseas investor engagement.

Mahindroo added that consistency is key and that Uttar Pradesh has the human capital and sectoral depth to support large-scale manufacturing. “One of the biggest weaknesses of UP is that UP leaders and bureaucrats do not travel to get investment out compared to the other states.”

Also, read: UP Tech Next Summit: 'Steps taken to make UP a semiconductor hub will lead to a digital revolution', says UP minister

Mahindroo further said the state now has the credibility to showcase its progress and urged the government to increase international roadshows and set a clear target for attracting global manufacturing and supply chain operations.

In his words, UP must shift the question from who is manufacturing in India to how many global value chains are manufacturing in the state and exporting.

The government has also begun hosting focused events, including another electronics manufacturing programme scheduled this week.

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Industry leaders also highlighted the progress made since UP expanded its electronics policy framework. Rajesh Agarwal, co-founder of Micromax and Bhagwati Products, said his company employs more than 10,000 people in Noida and has received strong support from both the state and the Centre.

He said the infrastructure has improved and that his company plans to set up a mother factory in UP with its supplier base located in the state. According to him, the “chill factor” that once discouraged investment has reduced significantly.

The Uttar Pradesh government aims to close the outreach gap and convert industry feedback into a more active investment push.

Also, read: UP Tech Next Summit: 'Steps taken to make UP a semiconductor hub will lead to a digital revolution', says UP minister