Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said the state has undergone a major transformation since 2017, with the government’s focus on rule of law, investor confidence and industrial development helping change its economic image.
Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day UPTEX 2026 textile conclave in Lucknow, Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh is working to establish an integrated textile ecosystem covering the entire value chain, from production and processing to garments and branding. The event is being held on September 8 and 9 at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan.
The Chief Minister also contrasted the state’s current investment environment with the situation before 2017, alleging that crime, extortion and political patronage had weakened the business environment at the time.
‘One District, One Mafia’ Before 2017, Says Yogi
Adityanath alleged that law and order had deteriorated significantly before 2017, with criminal networks exercising influence across districts.
“In every district, a parallel government run by mafias operated. It was almost like ‘one district, one mafia’,” he said.
He alleged that murder, extortion, illegal land occupation, kidnapping and what he described as “goonda tax” had affected ordinary citizens as well as businesses.
According to the Chief Minister, the situation also discouraged investors and damaged Uttar Pradesh’s image outside the state.
“An investor would come from outside with the dream of doing business and return with an extortion slip,” Adityanath said.
Law and Order Linked to Investment Climate
The Chief Minister argued that economic activity cannot expand without a stable law-and-order environment.
He recalled incidents of communal violence in places including Bareilly, Kosi Kalan in Mathura, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur, saying prolonged curfews affected schools, markets and businesses.
“If there is a curfew, markets will remain closed. If markets remain closed, business will stop. When people cannot leave their homes, the economy cannot move forward,” he said.
Adityanath said the government’s emphasis on security and stability had helped rebuild confidence among entrepreneurs, traders and investors.
UP Claims ₹50 Lakh Crore in Investment Proposals
The Uttar Pradesh government has said the state has received investment proposals worth more than ₹50 lakh crore since 2017. Official investment-promotion material puts the figure at over ₹50 lakh crore in proposals, while also indicating that more than ₹15 lakh crore of investments are taking shape.
The investment proposals span sectors such as:
- Electronics and semiconductors
- Defence manufacturing
- Textiles and garments
- Pharmaceuticals
- Logistics
- Data centres
- Industrial and business parks
Earlier this year, Adityanath also cited the ₹50 lakh crore investment-proposal figure while attributing the state’s industrial revival to rule-of-law measures, infrastructure expansion and policy reforms.
Textile Sector Positioned as Key Industrial Driver
At UPTEX 2026, the Chief Minister emphasised the need to build an integrated textile value chain within Uttar Pradesh.
The two-day conclave is bringing together textile manufacturers, traders, investors, exporters, technology providers and other stakeholders to discuss investment, technology, production and export opportunities.
The state government is also extending support to new and expanding textile units. According to officials, 50 textile units are receiving Letters of Comfort during the event, while ₹416.75 crore in financial assistance has so far been distributed to 157 units under the state’s textile policies.
Focus on Jobs, MSMEs and Textile Manufacturing
Adityanath also highlighted the role of the MSME sector and industrial investment in generating employment opportunities.
The Uttar Pradesh government’s investment-promotion material says the state has more than 96 lakh MSMEs and has received investment proposals exceeding ₹50 lakh crore. It also cites employment generation through government recruitment and private-sector/MSME activity.
The government’s broader textile strategy seeks to connect Uttar Pradesh’s traditional strengths in handloom and textiles with modern manufacturing, technology and global markets.
Government Seeks Global Textile Value-Chain Role
The Chief Minister said Uttar Pradesh has the workforce, market and manufacturing base required to expand its position in the textile industry.
The UPTEX 2026 platform is being used to showcase the state’s textile policies, incentives and investment opportunities, with the broader objective of attracting fresh investment and strengthening the sector’s links with domestic and international markets.
