Uttar Pradesh is set to transform into India’s leading warehousing and logistics hub, according to the state’s industrial development minister, Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi. Speaking at a session hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Lucknow, Nandi highlighted the strategic advantages that position Uttar Pradesh at the forefront of this sector.

With the largest network of international and domestic airports and an extensive railway system, Uttar Pradesh is primed to support a thriving logistics and warehousing industry. “The warehousing and logistics sector is crucial for promoting a wide array of industries. Given our expansive railway and airport infrastructure, Uttar Pradesh has the potential to become the hub for logistics and warehousing, significantly altering the industrial landscape and driving the state towards a trillion-dollar economy,” Nandi stated.

The event, organised in partnership with the UP Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), marked the 2nd edition of the ‘CII Logistics and Warehousing Summit 2024’. The summit attracted numerous prominent players in the logistics industry, underscoring the sector’s growing importance.

Shrihari Pratap Shahi, Additional CEO of UPEIDA, detailed the progress made under the UP Warehousing and Logistics Policy 2022. He praised the Yogi Adityanath government for implementing policies that provide substantial incentives, creating a fertile environment for sectoral growth and innovation.

Akash Goenka, Chairman of the CII Northern Region Committee on Food and Dairy and Director of Goldiee Group, echoed these sentiments. He noted that as one of India’s largest and most populous states, Uttar Pradesh serves as a key transit point connecting various regions of the country. “The development of industrial corridors like the Eastern Peripheral Expressway and the proposed Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) further enhances our logistics network,” Goenka added.

Yawar Ali Shah, Panel Convenor of the CII Panel on MSME and CEO of AMA Herbals Laboratories, emphasized the sector’s role as a major driver of economic growth and employment. “The logistics sector is the engine propelling the nation’s economic growth and is the largest employment provider after MSMEs,” Shah remarked.

The summit underscored Uttar Pradesh’s strategic initiatives and robust infrastructure, positioning the state as a pivotal player in India’s logistics and warehousing sector.