Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday (Feb 3) welcomed the recent reduction in tariffs on Indian goods under the India-US trade arrangement, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump for the move. He said the decision reflects international recognition of India as a reliable trade partner and could benefit domestic manufacturing, including the pharmaceutical sector.
The Chief Minister was speaking at the UP Pharma Conclave 1.0, held in Lucknow to highlight investment opportunities in Uttar Pradesh’s pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors. The conclave was organised by the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) in collaboration with Invest UP, and brought together policymakers, industry representatives, investors, and regulatory authorities.
Focus on Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Policy Support
In his address, CM Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh is increasingly emerging as a consumer as well as manufacturing market, citing improvements in governance, infrastructure, and the ease of doing business. He noted that the state’s population size, expanding healthcare needs, and policy framework position it as an important destination for pharmaceutical and medical device investments.
He also referred to recent initiatives by the central government aimed at strengthening domestic pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing, stating that coordinated efforts between the Centre and states are contributing to improved competitiveness in the sector.
State officials outlined incentives available under the Uttar Pradesh Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Industry Policy 2023, including capital subsidies, stamp duty exemptions, and electricity duty waivers. Information was also shared on upcoming infrastructure projects such as the proposed bulk drug park and medical device park.
Investment Environment and Economic Indicators
The Chief Minister stated that Uttar Pradesh has transitioned into a revenue-surplus state and highlighted the outcomes of earlier investment summits, which attracted proposals worth approximately ₹20,000 crore. He said the state has undertaken administrative and regulatory reforms and developed a land bank to facilitate industrial projects.
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
CM Adityanath announced an allocation of ₹2 crore to explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the medical sector in Uttar Pradesh. He said the initiative is intended to assess applications of AI in healthcare delivery, diagnostics, and related areas. He also noted that an AI conclave is scheduled to be held in Delhi.
Industry Participation and MoUs
The Chief Minister acknowledged pharmaceutical and medical companies that signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with the state government during the conclave. He said these agreements are expected to support investment, employment generation, and expansion of pharmaceutical manufacturing in the state.
Law and Order Context
Referring to the period between 2012 and 2017, CM Adityanath said the state experienced frequent incidents of violence and law and order disruptions, which, according to him, affected business activity. He stated that the current administration adopted a policy of strict enforcement of law and order to restore public confidence.
Addressing questions on police action, the Chief Minister said that law enforcement agencies require the authority to respond when faced with armed criminal activity. He added that, in his view, law and order conditions have improved over the past several years.
He concluded by stating that improved stability and administrative reforms have contributed to Uttar Pradesh being positioned as a viable destination for industrial investment, including in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.
