Uttar Pradesh : Trade Exhibition Showcases Ayodhya and Devipatan Divisions"

Ayodhya : The Uttar Pradesh Regional Trade Exhibition (UPRTS), jointly organized by the Department of Industry and Enterprise Promotion of the Uttar Pradesh government and FICCI, was inaugurated today at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ramayana University, Ayodhya. This three-day event is a powerful initiative to provide a national platform to the rich industrial and handicraft traditions of Ayodhya and Devipatan divisions.

The inaugural session saw significant participation from entrepreneurs, artisans, and industry representatives from the region. The chief guest for the inaugural session was Mr. Rakesh Sachan, Cabinet Minister for MSME, Khadi, Village Industries, Sericulture, and Textiles, Government of Uttar Pradesh. Present on the occasion were Mr. Bhanu Pratap Singh, Vice Chancellor, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ramayana University; Mr. Ramakrishnan, Senior Member, FICCI and ESG Head, India Pesticides Limited. Vijayendra Pandian, Commissioner and Director Industries, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Ramchandra Yadav, MLA, Rudauli, Shri Girishpati Tripathi, Mayor, Ayodhya and Shri Anuj Tiwari, Company Secretary and Insolvency Professional were present in the august presence.

Chief Guest, Shri Rakesh Sachan, Cabinet Minister for MSME, Khadi, Village Industries, Sericulture, and Textiles, Government of Uttar Pradesh, said, "We are going to give a new direction to local artisans and ODOP by building a Unity Mall in every district of Uttar Pradesh. The objective of this initiative is to showcase and sell the products made by ODOP artisans, our villagers, and workers on a single platform—a single mall.

To realize this vision, we have launched Unity Malls—one is operational in Lucknow, another in Agra, and a third is rapidly being completed in Varanasi. This financial year, we are moving towards establishing one Unity Mall in Ayodhya, one in Mathura, and three in Kanpur. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has pledged to make India self-reliant and a developed nation by 2047. Our double-engine government in Uttar Pradesh, under the leadership of Honorable Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is working tirelessly towards this goal.

The development of Uttar Pradesh's products and infrastructure over the last eight and a half years is a testament to this." As a result, people from all over the world are coming to Uttar Pradesh to invest. Cities like Ayodhya, Kashi, and Mathura have created a conducive environment for investment today."

He explained that under the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, a training allowance of ₹400 and tools and toolkits worth ₹15,000 are provided. The Uttar Pradesh government has linked over 95,000 youth to the PM Yuva Yojana, providing training and loans. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's aim is to create employment opportunities in Uttar Pradesh and realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "We have to become job providers, not job seekers."

This exhibition, running from October 17th to 19th, is being jointly organized by the Department of Industry and Enterprise Promotion of the Uttar Pradesh government and FICCI. The three-day festival will feature exhibitions, technical sessions, and business-to-business meetings (BSMs).

Over 100 regional vendors will showcase their unique product lines, including both ODOP (One District One Product) and non-ODOP enterprises. The event aims to connect regional products to the national market, strengthen buyer-seller dialogue, and connect local enterprises to new opportunities.