Haridwar, October 2026: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday participated in the 7th CII Uttarakhand Industrial Summit and Expo 2026 held in Haridwar, highlighting the state's growing industrial ecosystem and the government's efforts to create a business-friendly environment.
Dhami said Haridwar, besides being a major spiritual centre, has emerged as an important hub of Uttarakhand's industrial development. He said such events provide a common platform for industry, trade, investment and innovation and play an important role in accelerating the state's economic growth.
The Chief Minister said entrepreneurs, traders and investors have a crucial role in the economic progress of any state. Establishment of industries creates employment opportunities, promotes new technology and innovation, and strengthens the local economy.
He said the state government was working to provide industries with a safe, transparent and simplified system and was seeking to play the role of a facilitator and partner rather than merely that of a regulator.
Dhami said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continuous efforts were being made to make Uttarakhand a developed, self-reliant and economically strong state. Expansion of road, rail and air connectivity has created a favourable environment for industrial and commercial activities, while projects such as the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway line and the Char Dham road project have improved connectivity and logistics facilities.
He said the state's industry-friendly policies were producing positive results. More than 29,000 new MSME units have been established in Uttarakhand in recent years, providing employment to around 1.27 lakh young people.
To address the concerns of investors and entrepreneurs quickly, the government has introduced the Nivesh Mitra mechanism. The single-window system has also been strengthened, with more than 206 services of 26 major departments being made available online, he said.
Dhami said the government wanted young people not merely to seek jobs but also to become job creators. Accordingly, startups and innovation were being given special encouragement. Along with implementing the Uttarakhand Startup Policy, the government has established a Rs 200 crore venture fund to provide financial support to startups.
He said an Integrated Manufacturing Cluster was being developed over approximately 1,002 acres at Khurpia in Udham Singh Nagar. The project would give fresh impetus to industrial development in the state while creating new opportunities for investment and employment.
The Chief Minister said industrial development was not being restricted to the plains. Efforts were underway to establish special industrial parks in Chamoli, Pauri and Almora to promote small industries. A flatted factory was being developed in Haridwar to provide modern industrial facilities to small entrepreneurs, while similar facilities were planned for Selaqui and Pantnagar in the future.
The government is also focusing on connecting traditional products, handicrafts and local enterprises with larger markets, Dhami said. Initiatives such as “One District, Two Products” are aimed at giving local products greater recognition at the national and international levels.
He said Uttarakhand was also making rapid progress in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, herbal products, AYUSH, engineering and auto components.
Dhami said the state's industry-friendly policies had also received recognition at the national level. Uttarakhand has been placed in the “Top Achievers” category under the Business Reform Action Plan and secured the first position in its category in the Export Preparedness Index 2024.
He called upon entrepreneurs and investors to take advantage of the opportunities available in Uttarakhand and become partners in investment and employment generation. The state government, he said, was committed to providing industries with a secure environment, transparent systems, simplified procedures and better investment opportunities.
The Chief Minister said the government was working to make Uttarakhand not only a spiritual centre but also an economically empowered state. He underlined the important role of industry, trade, investors and youth in achieving this objective and congratulated the CII team and all those associated with the event.
Dhami also visited the exhibition put up by various industrial units during the event.
Earlier, the Chief Minister met police personnel undergoing training at the helipad located at the Police Lines. He enquired about their well-being and sought information about their training. He encouraged the personnel and urged them to discharge their responsibilities with dedication and commitment.
Cabinet Minister Pradeep Batra said industries were the backbone of the country's economy and expressed confidence that the industrial event in Haridwar would add a new dimension to Uttarakhand's industrial development.
He said the industry would have to move forward with a focus on quality and innovation to contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India. He said strong determination and commitment could help achieve ambitious goals, adding that India could emerge as a self-reliant and globally strong nation.
Batra also highlighted the rapid development witnessed in the country in sectors such as highways, railways, airports, education and healthcare in recent years.
Ranipur MLA Aadesh Chauhan, former Cabinet Minister Swami Yatishwaranand, Shivalik Nagar Municipal Chairperson Rajiv Sharma, former Mayor Manoj Garg, former MLA Sanjay Gupta, Minister of State Aadesh Saini, Vikram Bhullar, CII Uttarakhand Chairman Sanjay Agrawal, CII Uttarakhand Vice Chairman Saurav Das, Industry Secretary Vinay Shankar Pandey, District Magistrate Mayur Dixit, SIDCUL Managing Director Saurav Gahwar, Senior Superintendent of Police Navneet Singh Bhullar, CII Uttarakhand Director Gaurav Lamba, CII Uttarakhand Chairperson Sonia, Sandeep Jain and representatives from the industry and business sectors were present.
