Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the 120th annual session of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi
a
Welcoming the entrepreneurs and representatives of various industrial institutions present at the event, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the role played by PHD Chamber in the country’s economic progress, industrial development, and strengthening the spirit of entrepreneurship over the past 120 years is incomparable.
The Chief Minister said that today we have gathered in this important session for meaningful discussions on the topic of “India’s emerging role as a reliable global partner” and the state of Uttarakhand’s contribution to it. We all know that industries play a vital role in any country’s economic progress. Industries not only create employment opportunities but also play a vital role in improving the living standards of every section of society.
The Chief Minister said that when the country’s industrialists, entrepreneurs, and policymakers come together to reflect and deliberate on national development, its impact is not limited to the industry alone, but also paves the way for the welfare of every section of society and the overall development of the nation. This Conclave is not merely a gathering of the industry, but a powerful platform that opens doors to new possibilities for India’s economic strength, cultural consciousness, and global leadership. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the policy of “Reform, Perform, and Transform” has given India a new direction. Today, India not only has a favorable environment for investment, but also has witnessed profound changes in areas such as infrastructure, education, health, women’s empowerment, and social justice. Honorable Modi is the first Prime Minister of the country to pledge to make India a developed nation, and systematic work is being carried out to realize this pledge.
The Chief Minister said that today, through initiatives like “Startup India,” “Vocal for Local,” “Make in India,” “Skill India,” and “Digital India,” the country is moving rapidly towards self-reliance. Furthermore, India has become the country with the third largest startup ecosystem in the world. Today, our startups are making their mark in global innovation, Digital India has brought technology to the common citizen, and the Self-reliant India campaign has paved the way for the country to become a hub of production and manufacturing. Today, major countries across the world are astonished to see that even a woman running a small vegetable shop in India is making mobile payments through UPI. Today, more than 550 million people in the country are connected to the banking system. Whether it is agricultural production, defense, medicine, energy, science and technology, or space research, India is establishing new dimensions of development and prosperity by becoming self-reliant in every sector.
The Chief Minister said that today, India has become the fourth largest economy in the world and is moving forward with the goal of reaching the third position in the future. Countries that once viewed India solely as a large consumer market are now increasingly viewing India’s technological and innovation capabilities as a challenge. India is no longer merely an importer of goods, but is becoming a leading global partner in exports, manufacturing, and technological development. Fearing our growing power, some countries are making unsuccessful attempts to halt our progress. However, the resolve, strength, and innovation of India’s industry have proven that no force can hinder our progress. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is on a two-day visit to India, has also acknowledged the fact that “India will emerge as the world’s third-largest economy by 2028 and that India has become the most reliable and secure destination for global investment.”
The Chief Minister said that today, while the Prime Minister is strengthening the resolve for a self-reliant India with the mantra of “adopt swadeshi,” he is also providing relief to citizens through next-generation GST reforms and invigorating local industries and businesses. Under the Prime Minister’s visionary leadership, our government is also continuously working towards industrial development in Uttarakhand. Our government organized the Global Investors Summit in 2023 to promote investment in the state. It is a matter of great pride for us that out of the investment agreements worth over ₹3.56 lakh crore received under this summit, we have successfully implemented investment proposals worth approximately ₹1 lakh crore. We have ensured a healthy investment environment in the state through investor-centric policies, infrastructure, skilled manpower, and good governance. Previously, setting up a manufacturing unit in the state required obtaining various approvals from various departments, which was time-consuming. To address this issue, we have simplified the licensing process for industries and improved the single-window system. We have also implemented over 30 policies, including the Industrial Policy, Logistics Policy, Startup Policy, and MSME Policy, to provide a better environment for industries in the state. Additionally, our government has implemented a Mega Industrial Policy to encourage large enterprises in the manufacturing sector. Furthermore, we are establishing a world-class U-Hub at a cost of ₹60 crore to provide incubation facilities to startups. A ₹200 crore venture fund has also been established to provide easy access to funding. Furthermore, we have established an investment promotion agency, UK-SPICE, to promote investment in the state, and a dedicated “Investment Friend” is being provided to investors.
The Chief Minister said that while we have established Aroma Park in Kashipur, Plastic Park in Sitarganj, Electronics Manufacturing Cluster in Kashipur, and Multimodal Logistics Park in Pantnagar, SIDCUL is also developing low-cost flatted factories in Rudrapur, Selaqui, and Haridwar to enable MSME entrepreneurs to set up their enterprises on a plug-and-play model. Furthermore, we are also working towards developing a smart industrial township on over a thousand acres of land at Kichha Farm. Additionally, we are developing a “rent-based accommodation” facility to provide comfortable housing to those working in the industrial sector. Today, our initiative, “House of Himalayas Brand,” is proving effective in bringing all the state’s organic products under one umbrella. Under this initiative, efforts are being made to gain global recognition by GI-tagging various products from the state. Products manufactured by the state’s women self-help groups are gaining global recognition. Our government is striving to realize the concept of minimum government, maximum governance in the state. We have benefited more than 10,000 new entrepreneurs in the state through the Chief Minister’s Self-Employment Scheme. Today, we are providing more than 260 business services completely online in the state. This eliminates the need for entrepreneurs to run around various departments and ensures both transparency and speed in the system.
The Chief Minister said that as a result of all these efforts, Uttarakhand has been ranked among Achievers in the Ease of Doing Business and Leaders in the Startup Ranking. Our entrepreneurs are directly benefiting from our strictness and transparency, and they no longer face unnecessary obstacles in project approvals, land allotments, industrial licenses, or other business activities. We are continuously working to fulfill our “optionless resolve” to establish Uttarakhand as the country’s leading “investment-friendly state.”
The Chief Minister said that the World Summit on Disaster Management (WSDM) is scheduled to be held in Dehradun from November 28-30, 2025, where global leaders and experts will discuss the impacts of climate change. This first WSDM pre-summit aims to promote innovation and collaboration to deal with disasters.
Hemant Jain, President, PHDCCI, Anil Gupta, Rajiv Juneja, Vice President, PHDCCI, Sanjeev Agarwal, Former President, PHDCCI, representatives from various industrial institutions and industrialists, and U Cast Director General, Durgesh Pant were present.
