Australia Terms Uttar Pradesh A Priority State To Invest, Plans To Deepen Economic Engagement

In a move to expand the economic engagement between Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Australia, Australian high commissioner Barry O'Farrell met UP chief secretary RK Tiwari on Thursday (25 February), reports Hindustan Times.

O’Farrell said that UP as part of Australia's India economic strategy is a priority state and infrastructure development, education and agriculture are the focus areas for Australian investment in the state.

In the meeting, chief secretary Tiwari apprised O'Farrell of various facilities and incentives available to investors in UP. He highlighted the upcoming defence corridor and construction of various expressways in the state noting the rising opportunities to invest. He also underlined that UP jumped many places to be ranked second in the country on the ease-of-doing-business rankings.

"The state has adequate necessary infrastructure, land, water, power and skilled manpower, which is conducive for investment. A lot of work is going on in the state in the medical and health sector as well. There are a lot of investment opportunities in UP in food processing, transport, agriculture, medical and health, education, cooperatives, logistics and warehousing," said Tiwari as quoted in the statement.

O'Farell also tweeted about his meeting with UP chief minister Yogi Adtiyanath and said they discussed how to deepen economic engagement.

The Yogi Adityanath government has given priority to infrastructure development in the state. The state budget for 2021-22 has allotted more than Rs 3,450 crore the three under-construction expressways and Rs 7,200 crore for the proposed 594-km long Ganga Expressway.