Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Sunday, said that investment flourishes only in a secure environment, and if people don’t feel safe, their capital won’t be either. He pointed out that the state’s strong security environment and its zero tolerance policy towards crime have disturbed those who once saw crime as a profession.

The chief minister was speaking at the inauguration of a new soft drink bottling and dairy product plant of Varun Beverages, a franchisee of PepsiCo, which has been set up with an investment of Rs 1,170 crore in Sector 27 of Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority, near the Gorakhpur Link Expressway.

He said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon the youth to focus more on entrepreneurship instead of jobs. Entrepreneurship is the most important medium to get more opportunities for employment.”

The chief minister pointed out that developed countries have prioritised entrepreneurship, research and innovation. He added that investment creates crucial job opportunities for youth and helps fulfill the aspirations of the people. He also shared that in the past seven years, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as an excellent destination for investment, thanks to its improved security and law and order policies.

“The government is dedicated to maintaining zero tolerance towards crime because ensuring safety now is essential for securing a better future,” he said.

The chief minister shared insights on his government’s investment initiatives since assuming office for the first time in 2017. He recalled that a dedicated team was constituted to explore investment opportunities in Uttar Pradesh, and it initially projected that the state could attract Rs 20,000 crore in investments but skeptics questioned it.

Accepting this skepticism as a challenge, Chief Minister Yogi resolved to transform Uttar Pradesh into a desirable destination for both domestic and international investors. His administration’s efforts resulted in attracting investment proposals totaling Rs 40 lakh crore during the Global Investors Summit held in February 2023. During the recent groundbreaking ceremony attended by Prime Minister Modi, the foundation for investment proposals worth Rs 10 lakh crore was laid. Chief Minister Yogi mentioned that another Rs 10 lakh crore in investment proposals are in the pipeline, ready to be implemented.

The chief minister stated that increasing investment is a sign of rising industrial development and job creation in Uttar Pradesh. Citing the Varun Beverages unit in GIDA as an example, he noted that the administration facilitated this progress by providing 48 acres of land for the project, resulting in employment for over 1,500 individuals. Notably, 90 per cent of these employees are from Uttar Pradesh, with more than 70 per cent hailing from Gorakhpur and its surrounding areas.

“Previously, many young people were compelled to seek job opportunities in cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, or even abroad in places like Thailand and Singapore. Now, they can find jobs and employment opportunities closer to home. But, this change has not taken place overnight,” Chief Minister Yogi stated.

He pointed out that after the foundation stone of GIDA was laid, there were no signs of industrial development until 1998, largely due to protests and incidents like lathi-charges and firings that deterred investment. However, by addressing these challenges and improving communication with investors, Uttar Pradesh has successfully attracted Rs 12,000 crore in investments to GIDA over the past three to four years, he added.

“Establishing a solid land bank, improving infrastructure, and ensuring ease of doing business are essential for bringing investment to the ground in Uttar Pradesh. The government has focused on these areas, creating digital platforms to streamline business processes,” Yogi said.

He pointed out that the Nivesh Mitra portal serves as a single-window system for over 450 No Objection Certificates (NOCs) while investment memorandums of understanding are monitored through Nivesh Sarathi. An online incentive system is also in place for investors, and CM Fellows have been appointed to address any issues faced by them.

The chief minister mentioned several companies, including IGL, Gallant, Ankur Udyog, Keyan Distillery, Gyan Dairy, and Tatva Plastic that have invested in GIDA. Additionally, work on a Plastic Park, Flatted Factory, and Readymade Garment Park is being pursued vigorously by GIDA, he added.

He pointed out that a CBG plant has been established in Dhuriyapar marking a significant step toward green energy through the production of ethanol from agricultural stubble and efforts are also underway to transform Dhuriyapar into a major industrial area.

Regarding Varun Beverages, Chief Minister Yogi acknowledged the company’s excellent dairy products but pointed out the current challenge of insufficient local milk supply, requiring sourcing from outside the region. To address this, the government has approved Rs 20 crore to establish a women’s cooperative similar to the Balini Milk Producers in Bundelkhand.

He urged immediate action to enable Varun Beverages to source milk from Gorakhpur, Basti and Azamgarh divisions, which will significantly increase farmers’ income and support livestock. He also encouraged the management of Varun Beverages to invite progressive farmers to visit their plant.

Describing UP as the best destination for investment, Chief Minister Yogi said, “The government is giving continuous encouragement to start-ups and industries along with jobs. Youth are getting proper opportunities in every field. Six and a half lakh youth have been given government jobs in the state while two crore have secured employment in micro, small and medium enterprise-industry and 60 lakh youth have been linked to self-employment.”

He highlighted the success of the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme, which has generated significant employment opportunities across the state.

After inaugurating the Varun Beverages unit in GIDA, Chief Minister Yogi made a thorough inspection of the bottling plant. He observed the entire process from the manufacturing to packaging of carbonated soft drinks and explored various PepsiCo brand products. During his visit, Varun Beverages officials showcased their state-of-the-art high-tech machinery and the innovative bottling processes in place.

On this occasion, UP’s Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’, MP Ravi Kishan Shukla, Nepal’s Krishnanagar MP Abhishek Pratap Shah, Mayor Dr Manglesh Shrivastava, MLA Pradeep Shukla, Fateh Bahadur Singh, Vipin Singh, Mahendrapal Singh, Shriram Chauhan, Sarwan Nishad, MLC and Bharatiya Janata Party state Vice-President Dr Dharmendra Singh, MLC Bagish Pathak, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, Medanta Group Chairman Dr Naresh Trehan, GIDA Chief Executive Officer Anuj Malik, BJP district president Yudhishthir Singh, M/s Varun Beverages Chairman Ravikant Jaipuria, Varun Beverages Executive Director Kamlesh Jain, and others were present.