INTRODUCTION
The state of Uttar Pradesh achieved a remarkable milestone by organising the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS-2025)[1] from September 25 to 29, 2025, at the India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida. The main objective of this event was to project the state as a hub for investment, trade, and other economic activities. Along with this, the event aimed to promote and empower women entrepreneurs and their contributions in the mainstream market and business policies. This showcased women’s power across sectors such as IT, textiles, handicrafts, and more, and their participation in self-help groups, MSMEs, individual innovators, and more. This initiative also aligns with India’s economic agenda of Make in India and Vocal for Local campaigns. This helps combine economic progress with social empowerment and makes women central to the state’s growing story. UPITS-2025 is intended to make the state inclusive and future-ready.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE OF UPITS-2025
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, aimed to make the state globally competitive in the industrial market, and so UPITS-2025 was formed as part of the industrial policy to transform the state into a $1 trillion economy. This was achieved by promoting industrial growth, exports, and e-commerce. UPITS-2025’s key feature was to reflect the talent of local industries and artisans and help them gain worldwide recognition. They even aimed to expand investment, logistics, and infrastructure for them. As a result, over 2000 exhibitors participated from nearly 80 countries to showcase their business. One of the major goals of this was to increase the engagement of MSMEs[2], which formed the backbone the Uttar Pradesh’s economy. They tried to highlight MSMEs’ opportunities for B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-consumer) and to bridge the gap between small producers and large businesses.
The uniqueness of the event lies in its promotion of women-led enterprises, self-help groups. To help women entrepreneurs gain equal opportunities, dedicated zones were set up to emphasise gender- inclusive reforms. Mainstream states’ programmes like One District One Product (ODOP)[3] were linked to the event, promoting district-specific crafts. Also, the schemes like CM Yuva Udyami and Ease of Doing Business were in line with it. Overall, its goal was to strengthen global and domestic market linkages through trade partnerships and MoUs (Memorandums of Understanding), and for the inclusive and sustainable development of the state’s economy.
WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AND THE QUEST FOR MARKET ACCESS
In early times, women were unable to get formal credit and access to training and technology. Due to this barrier, they were dependent on informal sales and local fairs. To combat this, UPITS-2025 gives them a platform for high visibility and answers to one of the most prominent questions by connecting with good investors and global buyers. Women have excelled in every field, including handicrafts, textiles, and eco-friendly items; the reason they are not able to achieve success for their brand is due to a lack of advertising and showcasing. Therefore, UPITS-2025 features special zones for women-led businesses and cooperatives, fostering gender-inclusive development. Through the exposure to so many women entrepreneurs, women artisans have signed MoUs worth thousands of dollars and have gotten big international deals. UPITS-2025 was a success in its initiative to enhance women entrepreneurs, providing them with institutional support, and has demonstrated achievements for them both globally and domestically.
POLICY REFORMS SUPPORTING WOMEN-LED ENTERPRISES
The ease of doing business in Uttar Pradesh with the help of digitisation is very structured. An online platform named Single-Window Clearance System has reduced delays and helped expand business by giving all important approvals, licenses, and permits all in one platform. Moreover, policies like ODOP have been central to supporting women as they help identify one unique product from each district, mainly produced by women artisans, and promote internationally, enhancing its visibility in the market. Some of the products are, for example, Banarasi sarees, Lucknow chikankari, Kannauj perfumes, etc. CM Yuva Udyami plays a vital role as it provides subsidised loans and business development support for them to become independent. This scheme particularly helps women as it allows them to get financial assistance, mentorship, and training, which benefits the development of their business.[4]
Recognising MSMEs has helped the state in various job creation, which has further facilitated subsidised support and credit access to entrepreneurs. This has even helped them in certification and branding of their business. Consequently, the government has also launched many skill development and digital literacy initiatives to help entrepreneurs, especially women, navigate online markets. UPITS-2025 also conducts various workshops, which are focused on branding, marketing, and all sorts of business efficiency-related subjects. This helps in linking policy with market access. This is not just a social initiative; it is aimed at economic upliftment as well.
IMPACT AND FUTURE PROSPECT OF UPITS-2025
UPITS-2025 has a lasting impact on the state’s economy. Thousands of exhibitors, investors had participated, and so many deals and MoUs were signed in various sectors, marking the success of this programme. This has helped the state move towards the goal of achieving a trillion-dollar economy. Consequently, the most striking achievement was the upliftment of women-led enterprises and promoting their brands, and helping them secure investment and deals internationally. MSMEs also played a crucial role in fostering small businesses and improving the supply chain with large corporations. This has also focused significantly on green production, sustainability, and innovation. The event has guided policymakers to understand the challenges faced by small and local businesses and what support they require to stand strong in the big market sphere.
The long-term prospect of UPITS-2025 is to make the state a permanent centre for trade and export, collaborating with global stakeholders, integrating AI, and digital tools for the promotion of and training of enterprises. Moreover, this event has contributed to social empowerment, especially in rural regions where women face a lot of barriers. The event demonstrated gender justice and sustainable development to foster the growth of all while securing a peaceful future for youth.
CONCLUSION
All in all, UPITS-2025 is a grand success through its innovative structure to promote all types of business, whether they are small, local, or established big enterprises. This initiative has not just boosted the state’s economy but has made an impact in the international market as well. All the policies have further strengthened the game of states’ local products, allowing them to get easier investment and training. Women-led programmes were a breakthrough, showcasing their commitment to gender inclusive growth. UPITS-2025 thus embodies India’s vision of inclusive growth, where women’s leadership becomes the cornerstone of industrial progress and sustainable development.
Author(s) Name: Aditi Goyal (Dharmashastra National Law University)
References:
[1] Government of Uttar Pradesh, ‘Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS-2025)’ (Invest UP, 2025) <https://investup.org.in> accessed 28 October 2025
[2] Government of Uttar Pradesh, ‘Uttar Pradesh MSME Promotion Policy 2023’ (Department of MSME, 2023)
[3] Government of Uttar Pradesh, ‘One District One Product Scheme’ (UP ODOP, 2024) <https://odopup.in> accessed 28 October 2025
[4] ibid
