Uttar Pradesh, once labeled as a lagging or investment-unfriendly state, has now established a strong presence on the global investment map. Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, who recently returned from a four-day official visit to Singapore and Japan led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, shared details of the tour and described it as a major milestone in the state’s journey toward becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy.
The minister stated that the visit reflected the transformation achieved in Uttar Pradesh over the past nine years under the leadership of the Chief Minister and with the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Transparent policies, improved law and order, and robust infrastructure have significantly enhanced investor confidence, he said. During the visit, the state secured Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth ₹1.5 lakh crore and received investment proposals totaling ₹2.5 lakh crore.
He emphasized that the tour was dedicated entirely to development and economic advancement, with a tightly structured, minute-to-minute schedule comparable to multinational corporate engagements. The delegation departed from Lucknow on the night of February 22 and spent three nights in transit and four days across Singapore and Japan, with back-to-back meetings and engagements.
Singapore Visit: Strategic Partnerships and Investor Outreach
Upon arrival in Singapore on February 23, meetings began almost immediately despite the early morning arrival. The delegation held five government-to-business (G2B) meetings on the first day and visited ITE College Central. High-level interactions included meetings with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, and Global Schools Group Founder and Chairman Atul Temurnikar. The delegation also interacted with members of the Indian community in Singapore.
On February 24, discussions resumed in the morning with Energy and Science & Technology Minister Tan See Leng. Meetings were also held with Wang Yu Jin, CCO of CAG Goodrich Aerostructures, and Kerry Mok, CEO at SATS Changi Airport Logistics Hub. A working lunch meeting took place with Minister for National Security and Home Affairs K. Shanmugam, followed by six additional G2B meetings. An investor roadshow was organized to present Uttar Pradesh’s industrial ecosystem and emerging opportunities.
Singapore, recognized as a global hub for finance, logistics, and technology, engaged with Uttar Pradesh on multiple sectors. Discussions covered data centers and digital infrastructure, aviation ecosystems and MRO services, logistics and supply chain management, skill development and technical education, financial services and investment funds, and urban infrastructure and smart planning.
Key areas of cooperation included comprehensive economic partnership agreements, bilateral investment treaties, skill development, smart cities, urban planning, maritime collaboration, and the digital economy.
According to the state’s first Economic Survey, Uttar Pradesh’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) reached ₹30.25 lakh crore in 2024–25 and is projected to rise to ₹36 lakh crore in 2025–26, reflecting rapid economic growth.
Japan Visit: Technology, Green Energy, and Industrial Collaboration
After concluding engagements in Singapore, the delegation traveled to Tokyo on the night of February 24. On February 25, the team paid tribute at Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at Gandhi Park in Tokyo before commencing official meetings.
Multiple industry leaders and CEOs participated in investment dialogues and roadshows, during which Uttar Pradesh was presented as a state with vast industrial potential. On February 26, the delegation visited Yamanashi Prefecture to review green hydrogen facilities and met the Governor of Yamanashi.
Several MoUs were signed during the Japan leg of the visit, including agreements with Kubota Corporation, Spark Minda (in collaboration with Toyo Denso), Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, and Nagase & Co., Ltd. Business-to-government meetings were also held with major corporations such as Suzuki Motor Corporation, Honda Cars India Ltd., Konoike Transport Co., Ltd., Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Rapidus Corporation, Marubeni Corporation, Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd., and MUFG Bank.
A significant announcement during the visit was the establishment of a Green Hydrogen Center of Excellence. The initiative will involve collaboration between the University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi Hydrogen Company, IIT Kanpur, Harcourt Butler Technical University, IIT BHU, and Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology to promote green energy research and innovation.
Key Announcements and Future Plans
Among the major announcements was the development of a 500-acre “Japan City” in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) region. The project will create a dedicated industrial ecosystem for Japanese companies. Plans also include establishing a dedicated auto cluster and research and development facilities for OEMs and component manufacturers.
The Japan Desk at Invest UP will be further strengthened to facilitate smoother coordination with Japanese investors. Japan will also support technology transfer, skill development, joint ventures, and supply chain integration in Uttar Pradesh’s MSME sector.
Both sides agreed to promote tourism cooperation, particularly by linking Uttar Pradesh’s globally significant Buddhist Circuit and Ramayana Circuit to boost spiritual, cultural, and heritage tourism.
During the Singapore investor roadshow, discussions also advanced collaboration in MRO services, cargo hubs, semiconductors, data centers, logistics, skilling, and fintech. Positive deliberations were held on developing the Noida International Airport in Jewar as an MRO and cargo hub.
The Industrial Development Minister described the visit as historic and decisive, stating that the scale of investment interest demonstrated that Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a preferred global investment destination.
