Why industry bodies like FICCI, CII see Uttar Pradesh as an emerging investment hub

The collaboration with leading industry bodies is strengthening Uttar Pradesh's image as a credible investment destination among domestic and international investors, supporting its push towards a $1 trillion economy.CM Yogi said the state's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and per capita income have more than doubled over the past eight years. (File photo)Uttar Pradesh's efforts to position itself as a preferred investment destination have found backing from some of the country's leading industry bodies, with organisations such as the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Young Indians (YI) highlighting the state's policy reforms, infrastructure development and business environment.The endorsements come as the Yogi Adityanath government seeks to attract more domestic and global investment while pursuing its target of making Uttar Pradesh a $1 trillion economy.At FICCI's National Executive Council meeting held in Lucknow, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said strategic policy reforms, improved law and order and coordinated governance between the Centre and the state had helped transform Uttar Pradesh into what he described as the country's "safest investment destination". He said the state's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and per capita income have more than doubled over the past eight years. FICCI President Harshvardhan Agarwal described Uttar Pradesh's progress as "unprecedented", pointing to improvements in infrastructure, ease of doing business, sector-specific policies, expressway connectivity and airport expansion. Agarwal also cited the successful organisation of the Mahakumbh and the transformation of Ayodhya as examples of the state's development trajectory. FICCI Uttar Pradesh State Council Chairman Manoj Gupta said initiatives such as waterway development and freehold land reforms could help the state capitalise on global manufacturing shifts.Similar observations were made at the CII Annual Business Summit 2026, where the Chief Minister said Uttar Pradesh has established more than 18,000 large industries and around 96 lakh MSME units during the past nine years. CM Yogi attributed the growth to business reforms, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), digital governance and schemes such as the One District One Product (ODOP) programme, which aims to strengthen local industries through branding, packaging, technology and design support.CII President Rajiv Memani said investor perception of Uttar Pradesh had undergone a "phenomenal transformation", crediting improvements in governance, law and order and business-friendly policies for attracting investors. CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee also highlighted the state's expanding infrastructure network and growing contribution to India's economy.Beyond industrial investment, FICCI has partnered with institutions such as IIT Kanpur to promote innovation and startups through academic collaborations. The industry body also conducts export promotion initiatives, capacity-building workshops and trade-related programmes in the state.Young Indians (YI), the youth wing of CII, has also expanded its engagement in Uttar Pradesh by providing networking, mentorship and policy platforms for young entrepreneurs, startups and MSMEs.Industry experts say endorsements from organisations such as FICCI and CII are closely watched by investors, as they reflect industry sentiment on governance, infrastructure and the ease of doing business. Their continued engagement with Uttar Pradesh is expected to strengthen the state's investment pitch as it competes with other manufacturing and industrial hubs across the country.- EndsPublished By: Shipra ParasharPublished On: Jul 23, 2026 13:42 IST