The Uttar Pradesh Government has secured MoUs worth Rs 9,750 crore at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, signalling strong global investor interest in the state’s clean energy, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and defence manufacturing ambitions.
The state delegation, led by Suresh Kumar Khanna, Minister for Finance and Parliamentary Affairs, commenced high-level engagements at Davos with a clear focus on forging global partnerships and attracting high-impact investments. Coordinated by Invest UP, the state’s investment promotion and facilitation agency, the engagements underline Uttar Pradesh’s intent to position itself as one of India’s most future-ready and investor-friendly destinations.
Among the key outcomes was an MoU worth Rs 8,000 crore with SAEL Industries Ltd to develop agriculture waste-to-energy projects across the state. Under the agreement, SAEL will set up around 20 biomass power plants of 25 MW capacity each, totalling 500 MW, primarily across 16 identified paddy-producing districts. The plants will use crop residue such as paddy straw to generate renewable electricity, addressing stubble waste management while supporting clean energy generation and rural livelihoods.
Strengthening Uttar Pradesh’s digital and AI ecosystem, the Government also signed an MoU with Sify Technologies involving an investment of Rs 1,600 crore. The NASDAQ-listed digital services company has proposed setting up an AI-ready, renewable-energy-powered data centre in Noida, incorporating advanced air-cooling technology to significantly reduce water consumption. The proposal also includes the development of an “AI City” around the facility. Sify is exploring the acquisition of five acres of land, potential collaborations with global technology players such as Google and Meta, and the use of Starlink connectivity. The company also discussed deploying AI-driven solutions across priority sectors including agri-tech, healthcare, education, women’s health and law and order.
In the defence manufacturing space, Uttar Pradesh signed an MoU worth Rs 150 crore with Yeoman for weapons system integration and manufacturing. The project is expected to strengthen indigenous defence capabilities, support technology transfer and create skilled employment, further enhancing the state’s growing defence and aerospace manufacturing ecosystem.
Beyond MoU signings, the delegation held a series of business-to-government meetings with leading global and Indian companies, including Louis Dreyfus Company, Uber Technologies, Automation Anywhere, Cauldron, PepsiCo, HCL Software, Wealth Door, Anupam Rasayan India Ltd, Google Cloud, Greenko and Deloitte South Asia. Discussions spanned opportunities across digital transformation, renewable energy, food processing, automation and global trade.
A key engagement with Uber focused on expanded investments, mobility partnerships and the potential establishment of a Global Capability Centre in Noida. With over 1.5 lakh vehicles operating across more than 13 locations in Uttar Pradesh, Uber highlighted opportunities linked to tourism, last-mile connectivity and innovative mobility solutions supported by the state’s progressive policy framework.
The delegation also met Neeraj Agarwal, Founder and CEO of Carbon Compass, to explore future-facing opportunities in climate innovation and sustainability. An alumnus of IIT Kanpur and MIT, Agarwal is also a former NASA scientist.
Overall, Uttar Pradesh’s participation at Davos 2026 reflects a proactive, partnership-led approach to economic development, backed by policy stability, improving infrastructure and focused investment facilitation. The agreements and discussions are expected to translate into long-term investments, job creation and deeper global integration, reinforcing the state’s trajectory towards sustainable and innovation-driven growth. |
