Uttar Pradesh To Invest $4 Billion For Developing Global Technology Hubs; Noida, Lucknow Among Five Selected Cities

The Uttar Pradesh government is set to invest $4 billion in establishing global technology hubs, aiming for a tenfold increase in the Information Technology (IT) and IT-enabled Services (ITeS) sectors over the next five years.

This investment will focus on advanced technologies across various fields, including industry, e-commerce, education, healthcare, tourism, space, electronics, and energy.

To attract international investors, including those from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Yogi Adityanath administration is crafting a strategy to enhance the state's artificial intelligence and drone ecosystems.

According to a senior official, five cities have been selected for the development of these hubs: Noida, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, and Prayagraj (Allahabad).

Noida is set to become an IT & ITeS hub, while Lucknow will specialise in industries related to artificial intelligence and machine learning. Kanpur will focus on drones and robotics, and Varanasi and Prayagraj will be established as centers for Engineering Research and Development (ER&D).

The government is also considering granting the IT sector industry status, which would enable IT businesses to access electricity at industrial rates, Business Standard reported.

A concept paper commissioned by the government highlights that Noida already has a robust IT ecosystem, recognised globally for its IT & ITeS capabilities, with several major technology companies operating in the region.