Lucknow: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday attended the ground breaking ceremony @3.0 of the UP Investors Summit here and laid the foundation stone of 1406 projects worth more than Rs 80,000 crore. The projects encompass diverse sectors like agriculture and allied, IT and electronics, MSME, manufacturing, renewable energy, pharma, tourism, defence and aerospace, handloom and textiles, etc. The ceremony was attended by top industry leaders of the country. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister Rajnath Singh and others were among those present on the occasion.

The Prime Minister said that proposals that were entered into today will create new possibilities in Uttar Pradesh and reflect the growing confidence in the growth story of Uttar Pradesh. “Only our democratic India has the power to meet the parameters of a trustworthy partner that the world is looking for today. Today the world is looking at India’s potential as well as appreciating India's performance,” he said.

He informed that India is the fastest growing of the G20 economies and is at number two in the Global Retail Index. India is the third largest energy consumer country in the world. Last year, a record FDI of $84 billion came from more than 100 countries of the world. India has created a new record by exporting merchandise worth more than $ 417 billion, that is, 30 lakh crore rupees in the last financial year, he informed.

He also complimented the changed mood and work culture of the state machinery. Uttar Pradesh is home to one fifth or one sixth population of the country. It has, therefore, a huge bearing on the development of the country. Describing the inherent strengths of Uttar Pradesh, the Prime Minister said that nothing can stop the state from moving on the path of development.

He said that PLI schemes and allocation of 7.5 lakh crore rupees for capital expenditure will also benefit the state. He also mentioned the defence corridor in the state as a harbinger of new opportunities. Steps like modern PowerGrid, gas pipeline, multi model connectivity, record number of expressways, strengthening of connectivity of economic zones, modern railway infrastructure, Eastern and western Dedicated Freight Corridor all are converging in Uttar Pradesh with a promise of giving a new push to the development of Uttar Pradesh.

The UP Investors Summit 2018 was held on 21st -22nd February 2018, with the first Ground Breaking Ceremony being held on 29 July, 2018 and second Ground Breaking Ceremony on 28 July 2019. During the first Ground Breaking Ceremony, foundation of 81 projects worth more than Rs 61,500 crore was laid, while in the second Ground Breaking Ceremony, foundation of 290 projects with investments of more than Rs 67,000 crore was laid. /BI/