The summit provided an opportunity to chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to showcase UP as an “investment destination”, as he called domestic and foreign investors to explore opportunities in the northern state.

Significantly enough, the Chief Minister asked all the investors to “awaken the spirit of Christopher Columbus within themselves” and be first to explore investment opportunities.

Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav also announced various policies at the summit to attract investors in the state.

Importance is being given to the promise made by the chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and chief secretary Javed Usmani that UP government was committed to create world-class infrastructure

The UP government came out with the announcement that it would create an enabling policy environment, forge administrative reforms, partner with the private sector and provide strong governance.

Union Minister for Commerce Anand Sharma, who was present at the summit and held several round of discussion with state chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, also promised to increase central investment in the state.

The Union Minister also announced that UP would have a manufacturing zone of its own. It would be part of the 12 manufacturing zones that are under consideration to be set up in the country.

The summit also provided an opportunity for the young chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to interact on one-to-one bases with leading industry leaders from the country and abroad with their proposals for investment in UP.

Prominent industry leaders and representatives from big corporate houses who met chief minister Akhilesh Yadav included those from Bharti Enterprises, Mahindra and Mahindra, HCL, Tata Chemicals, Eddison Chennai. The Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister Radovan Zerjar, as well as representatives from the US government also met the chief minister and promised to make investment in UP.

The president of US-India Business Council Ron Somers not only praised the policy announcements made by the chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, but he also promised that US delegation would visit UP in March and explore the possibilities for investment. (IPA)