AnyTime News 
Pop
During a pivotal meeting at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Smita Agarwal shed light on critical topics shaping the business landscape.
Highlighting the transformative impact of the Startup India initiative, *Ms Smita Agarwal, Chairperson CII Uttar Pradesh & Director & CFO, PTC Industries Ltd* during a meeting at CII, emphasized Uttar Pradesh’s remarkable journey in leveraging innovation to address unemployment, diversify industries, and bridge rural-urban gaps.
She said that over the years, Startup India has turned into a beacon of hope and opportunity, igniting innovation, creating jobs, and transforming the entrepreneurial landscape. Uttar Pradesh, she added, stands out as a prime example of how thoughtful policy implementation can drive regional growth and transformation. The *state’s Startup Policy 2020 (amended in 2022)* has fostered entrepreneurship with incentives, incubators, and collaborations across government departments and educational institutions. *Initiatives like Yuva Hub and the establishment of* *Tinkering Labs, E-Cells, and Centers of Excellence (CoEs)* have created a robust ecosystem for startups.
Key achievements include:
• *Over 1 lakh jobs* created through startups, with nearly half in tier II and III cities.
• ₹5.50 crore approved for 206 startups, including ₹18 lakh for women-led ventures.
• Recognition of 63 incubators in 23 districts, with ₹5.53 crore disbursed.
• Establishment of *CoEs in AI & ML, drones, and MedTech* , with more planned in 5G, 6G, and additive manufacturing.
Smita Agarwal noted that these efforts position Uttar Pradesh as a startup haven and key player in India’s drive towards a $1 trillion economy.
The *Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is playing a pivotal role in strengthening Uttar Pradesh’s startup ecosystem* by connecting startups with stakeholders, institutions, investors, and the government. Through flagship events like *Krishi-Bharat AgroTech 2024, InnoRail 2024, Health Summit, SugarTech,* and more, CII provides startups with valuable opportunities to showcase their potential.
*CII’s Centre of Excellence for Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Startups* further supports this ecosystem by bridging the gap between research, technology, and market needs, fostering collaboration among government, industry, and academia to drive innovation and societal impact in Uttar Pradesh.
