Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 19 Jul: The Industries Association of Uttarakhand (IAU) has welcomed the successful grounding of Rs 1 lakh crore in investments as a landmark achievement, describing it as a “positive development” with far-reaching consequences for the state’s economic future.
State president of IAU Pankaj Gupta observed that achieving nearly 30 per cent grounding of the total investment proposals within just eighteen months of the investor summit is both extraordinary and rare, especially when compared to the national average where only five to ten per cent of MoUs usually translate into actual projects. Gupta credited this outcome to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s consistent efforts to cultivate an investor-friendly environment and instil confidence across sectors.
While speaking to the media, Gupta observed that previous models of economic progress were largely centred around industrial growth alone, but the current administration has adopted a holistic approach by integrating energy, tourism, housing and other strategic areas into the investment framework. He pointed out that such inclusive planning has enhanced not only sectoral coordination but has also stimulated interest across a broader investment spectrum. The association acknowledged that internal infrastructure—like road networks, industrial zones and digital services—has been reinforced by the state government, while the Centre has provided robust support through enhanced external connectivity, including rail and national highway expansion.
The association’s optimism also rests on the fact that legal procedures—such as environmental clearances, land use permissions, and regulatory scrutiny—have been navigated with streamlined documentation and transparent governance. Industry stakeholders have noted that bottlenecks typically seen in such projects were reduced due to policy clarity and administrative reforms such as single-window clearance and digitised service platforms. This has significantly accelerated project approvals, reducing investor fatigue and litigation risk.
Gupta emphasised that Dhami’s framing of investors as Uttarakhand’s “brand ambassadors” is proving effective. He said that many investors are publicly sharing their positive experiences, lending credibility to the state’s image as a reliable and future-ready investment destination. This narrative, Gupta added, transcends statistical projections and embodies the lived reality of a small but dynamic state punching above its weight. He asserted that the government’s resolve to keep refining its policies, speeding up implementation timelines, and resolving procedural issues will further cement Uttarakhand’s position on the national investment map.
