Prayagraj: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday announced that investment proposals worth over Rs 35,000 crore are taking shape across six defence industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh, located in Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, Agra, Aligarh, and Chitrakoot.
Government Initiatives for Defence Manufacturing
Addressing the closing ceremony of the three-day NorthTech Symposium in Prayagraj, Yogi stated: “The state government has also created a large land bank. Through the defence and aerospace policy, incentives are being provided to investors willing to invest.” He praised the progress made towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing, with the nation moving towards the target of Rs 50,000 crore worth of defence exports.
Yogi added that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is developing the country’s strategic and defence capabilities not to attack anyone, but to ensure its own security, as “strength and capability are essential for security, peace and prosperity.”
Importance of Emerging Technologies
The Chief Minister stressed the importance of building capabilities in surveillance, communications, and other emerging technologies. He warned of the dangers of overdependence on external sources for critical inputs and security, noting that the West Asia situation is an example of such vulnerability. “The one who is powerful and capable can only talk of peace,” said Yogi.
UP Defence Industrial Corridor
Yogi delineated the various new industries set up in the UP Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC), including BrahMos. He assured the armed forces and industry of all possible support from the state government to build a defence manufacturing corridor comprising young and skilled manpower, a diverse base of over 96 lakh MSMEs, and availability of land bank, among others.
He said the state government has taken various initiatives to provide a market-ready and industry-ready workforce for the defence industry, such as establishing centres of excellence. “The state is now home to over 21,000 startups. Uttar Pradesh has now shed its reputation as a ‘Bimaru’ state and has established its identity as an engine of growth,” he said.
Law and Order as a Catalyst
Yogi further highlighted the role of law and order in the progress of Uttar Pradesh. “Ensuring that the rule of law prevails at the grassroots is essential for good governance in the state,” he said, adding that the zero-tolerance policy towards crime and terrorism has led to growing investment in UP.
Talking about the importance of developing warheads as per changing needs, Yogi said in modern warfare, it is the power grid, banking, and communication system that must be protected from enemies, as war is no more only about bullets but about signals. “Data and technology are of utmost importance,” he said.
Symposium Details
He thanked the Central and Northern commands of the Indian Army for organising the North Tech Symposium in Prayagraj and related the event as a ‘Triveni’ of technology, knowledge, and innovation. The Chief Minister also visited various stalls in the exhibition and interacted with industry vendors. The three-day symposium was organised by the Central Command and Northern Command of the Indian Army, in collaboration with the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), from May 4 to 6. Two hundred eighty-four vendors and industry partners have set up their stalls in the exhibition.
