UP has emerged as top investment destination, says CM

Gautam Budh Nagar: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said Uttar Pradesh was the top destination for investment in the country and Microsoft's upcoming research and development centre is a testament to this.
The chief minister said this while laying the foundation stone of Microsoft's India Development Centre (IDC) in Sector-145, Noida. He also inaugurated the AI Engineering Centre of MAQ Software in Gautam Budh Nagar.
"I am told that IDC, spread across 15 acres, will be its largest research and development (R&D) hub outside its headquarters. With this new campus, Uttar Pradesh is set to become Microsoft's next major base after Hyderabad," he said.
Extending his best wishes to Microsoft CEO and chairman Satya Nadella and his team, CM praised the company's strong presence in north India.
"Our govt, under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, has embraced the vision of a ‘New Uttar Pradesh for a New India' over the past eight years," CM Yogi said.
Speaking about the Noida IDC, he highlighted that it will not only strengthen India's technical ecosystem through AI and cloud computing but also help in effectively implementing PM Modi's vision on the ground.
"This centre will serve as a hub for innovation in AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity," he said.
CM emphasized Uttar Pradesh's massive population scale, saying: "We have successfully reformed, performed and transformed by combining scale with speed. To support businesses and investments, the state has implemented 33 sectoral policies to improve ease of doing business. To attract and facilitate investments, the state has launched the Nivesh Mitra single-window clearance system, offering over 500 clearances."
He added that every investor signing an MoU benefit from an online monitoring process, ensuring transparency. Additionally, all investment incentives are distributed through an online system.
The CM highlighted Uttar Pradesh's significant role in the manufacturing sector, stating that the state now accounts for 65% of mobile phone manufacturing in India.
He also emphasized that Uttar Pradesh leads in electronic component production, contributing 55% nationwide. "Noida and Greater Noida are rapidly emerging as hubs for electronic manufacturing," he added.
Discussing the positive outcomes of govt initiatives, Yogi mentioned the successful integration of AI during Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.
"We made extensive use of AI, making it a major centre for AI-driven technology. As a result, over 66 crore devotees participated safely in the event," he said.
He also spoke about Uttar Pradesh's progress in digital governance, ensuring efficient ration distribution through e-PoS machines in villages. "Through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), govt schemes now reach beneficiaries transparently, eliminating corruption," he said. Additionally, he highlighted the successful implementation of the e-office system in the state secretariat.
The CM highlighted his govt's commitment to making Uttar Pradesh's youth digitally empowered. "Under the Vivekananda Empowerment Scheme, we have distributed smartphones and tablets to 50 lakh youth," he said.
He also highlighted the state's advancements in AI, 5G, 6G, drone technology, blockchain, wireless communication and medical tech.