New Delhi: The Singapore High Commissioner Simon Wong Wie Kuen on Wednesday met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and proposed Singapore to be the first partner country in the Uttar Pradesh Global Investor Summit.
In the courtesy meeting held at the Chief Minister’s official residence between a delegation from Singapore led by the Singapore High Commissioner and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, various discussions were held to further improve the bilateral relations and cooperation in existing fields and ways to expand it, particularly concerning the state of Uttar Pradesh.
During the talks, Singapore High Commissioner Wong informed that various companies from Singapore have invested about USD 250 million in Uttar Pradesh. Most of the investments are in Noida and adjoining regions.
Expressing confidence in the leadership of CM Yogi Adityanath and lauding the better connectivity and the Ease of Doing Business in UP after 2017, Wong said that many companies from Singapore are interested in investing in Uttar Pradesh.
“We are encouraging our investors to invest in Lucknow and other parts of the state. The Global Investor Summit will be a good opportunity for these companies. It will be a pleasure to collaborate with Uttar Pradesh in various areas of urban development and planning, including water management. Singapore is willing to work in Uttar Pradesh as per the intention of Prime Minister Modi,” Wong said.
We were confident about Yogi’s win: Wong
Terming Uttar Pradesh as his ‘second home’, Wong said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has established a very favourable atmosphere in the state.
“We were confident about Yogi’s win in the elections as the work done by him has ensured Uttar Pradesh’s remarkable progress,” Wong said, while congratulating Yogi on his unprecedented victory in the recent assembly elections.
Taking forward the cooperation between Singapore and UP in various fields, Simon Wong discussed the proposed Skill University in the state. He said that if Singapore can become a partner in this project in some way, it will be useful in further improving the relations between the two countries.
Simultaneously, Wong also proposed a programme for the exchange of technical knowledge and skills between the Government of Uttar Pradesh and Singapore. He said that Singapore is ready to provide necessary training for capacity building of state government officials and employees.
During the talks, Yogi said that India and Singapore share strong diplomatic and trade relations, and Uttar Pradesh can play an important role in further improving these relations. “All necessary infrastructure is available in Uttar Pradesh for industrial development. The state is also focusing on improving connectivity with 5 international airports. The first inland waterway from Haldia to Varanasi is in Uttar Pradesh itself. Singapore companies will find a favorable environment here,” he added.
The Chief Minister also informed the delegation about setting up a grand film city near Jewar (Gautam Buddha Nagar), where there will also be a Medical Device Park and a Fin-Tech City. Talking about infinite investment possibilities in Uttar Pradesh, Yogi said that the state has the largest MSME base.
A Singapore based company has invested Rs 1100 crore in the recent ground breaking ceremony. Stating that Uttar Pradesh is determined to provide an investor-friendly environment, Yogi said that about 21 sectoral policies have been formulated according to the needs of the industry.
Ayodhya model of Singapore will be useful for water and energy conservation: CM
The need for water and energy conservation were also discussed during the talks. In this regard, High Commissioner Simon Wong told the Chief Minister that work is being done by a Singapore-based organization to raise the standard of living of about 8,500 families in the Ayodhya district.
In this, every family has been given a smart meter, the families who save water and use the least electricity will also be rewarded. Families are being made aware of ways to conserve water and energy. This is a model, through which efforts are being made to make the society aware. Stating the initiative as an exemplary effort, the Chief Minister said that the Ayodhya model can be useful for water conservation.
