In a bid to reinvent its image as a business-friendly State, Uttar Pradesh Government is going to host UP Investors’ Summit 2018 on February 21 and 22. In the backdrop of the summit, Infrastructure & Industrial Development Minister of the State, Shri Satish Mahana exclusively spoke to Organiser Correspondent Nishant Kr Azad about the preparation and changing business atmosphere in the State. Excerpts:
BJP Government under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath in Uttar Pradesh (UP) is about to complete its one year. You are organising this investors summit. How would you project the State for investment?
Within this one year, the confidence of the people has increased manifold. For the last 15 years there was a chaos in governance. The people designated at the higher ranks in the government worked for their self-interest and self-development neglecting the public interest. Ransom and loot was the main industry. Poor law and order, zero security and unbearable situation was talk of the town. Casteism was rampant and people from a particular community had created anarchy in the State. Moreover the development of the State was never on agenda of the previous Governments. For Mayawatiji, to build parks was the priority, while there was a constant family feud within the Samajwadi Party. There were several serious problems in the State whether it was electricity, water for irrigation, law and order but that was never taken into consideration. Industry was disconnecting with the Government.
Now under the leadership of Yogiji, Industry and the Government are in a strong bond of relationship. In this Government, the interest has shifted from individuals and families to the youth and common people of the State. We are trying to build up this trust generated in the last one year through this Summit.
As the Industry Minister of the State, how do you see the preparation going on for the UP Investors meet?
We are almost done with the preparation and ready to host the summit. We went across the country to invite the investors to UP. And now we are here to welcome them to showcase the potential of the State.
After considering and studying policies of various States, we have formulated our new industrial policy, which will encourage investments in UP. Even our policy is being discussed in other States and people are willing to come to UP to invest.
What were the difficulties in organisation of this event?
Initially, there was a confidence deficit among the investors, overcoming that perception was the biggest challenge. Formerly UP was being discussed for goonda-gardi (hooliganism), jaativaad (catesim), apharan (kidnapping) etc but now there is a talk of development. This itself is a big achievement.
I went across the country to meet the industrialist. Previously, even their last preference was also not UP, but now, for industrialists UP is a preferred State.
How do you see the outcome of this Summit?
It is an opportunity and we are eyeing big. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s presence on the occasion will create a confidence among the industrialists. This will convey a message that the Government in the State and at the Centre are committed to provide the facilities for industrial development.
In a bid to attract the investors and promote the reach of the event, we have organised road shows not only in the State but even in other parts of the country. This is a first step in the direction of ‘New Industrialised Uttar Pradesh’.
However, this is not the first global investors’ summit to be organised in the State. How different is this from earlier ones?
I cannot call it an investors’ summit what the previous government had organised. Their so-called summit was only confined to Hotel venues. Even the roadshows which we have organised is much better than theirs. Our investors’ summit is not just an event. Common people and stake-holders will be major participants in this.
The summit will bring together heads of States and Governments, Ministers, leaders from the corporate world, senior policy makers, heads of international institutions and academia to further the cause of economic development in the state and promote cooperation. We are having approximately 20 sessions from various industrial sectors. The sessions will be chaired by the Union Ministers. Our State Ministers will also be there. In this two day summit we will discuss B to G (Business to Government) processes, the problems industrialists are facing and how they can be resolved. This is a purposeful and target based summit. While meeting the industrialists, one of them said to me that during Mayawati regime he was treated so badly that he decided not to come to UP ever. Fortunately after meeting him twice, he said under this Government he is again in a position to come to State.
It is alleged that the summit is the imitation of Vibrant Gujarat started by Prime Minister Modi when he was the Gujarat Chief Minister. Do you think that this is a similar attempt made by Yogiji?
Obviously, when we find something good, we follow that. We heve been following Modiji since long. Whatever he has done is amazing. Gujarat Model has been discussed across the country. Vibrant Gujarat is a kind of Global Investors’ Summit where people from different countries come, we also wanted to organise on the same pattern but because of lack of time we have not been able to approach so many from the international level. This time we are focusing on showcasing what UP actually is, from next time we will be in a position to host a Global Investors’ summit. This summit will definitely be an image changing and game changing for the State.
What are the unique selling points of UP you are going to present to woo the investors?
UP is a very potential State in many ways. We have very fertile land, good water resources, and biggest consumer market in the country. There are many travel destinations and tourist attractions which is a bonus for the State. Pilgrimage of Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva are there which attract lakhs of devotees to the places. Unfortunately this has never been discussed and projected by the earlier Governments. We are going to project and showcase what the real UP is.
There are attempts to showcase UP as a violent/criminal State by some people. How are you going to counter that?
From the very first day of the Government, to put an end to crime and violence in the State was on top of the agenda. Unfortunately some mishappenings were there, but the government is dealing with them seriously. We are committed to provide a better environment to the people and industrialists. Nobody can now dare to ask for ransom or anything illegal from the industrialists. If necessary, we will constitute Industrial Police to keep a close watch on disturbing elements and to assist the industrialists whatever they require in the interest of the State. *
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