PR No – 130
10th July, 2025
New Delhi
“Fire & Industrial Safety is one of the priority sectors of UP Govt”, says Shri Rakesh Sachan, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, Khadi and Villages Industries, Sericulture Industries, Handloom and Textile, Govt. of UP.
UP Government considers Fire and Industrial Safety as key sectors for the prevention of accidents in the industrial as well as residential sector. Setting up disaster management units in every district, providing information through e-portals, spreading awareness among MSME workers, ensuring compliance with fire safety norms, and conducting regular checks of fire safety equipment are the key focus areas of our government said, Shri Rakesh Sachan, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, Khadi and Villages Industries, Sericulture Industries, Handloom and Textile at PHDCCI’s 4th edition of UFSEC held today, from 10th & 11th July 2025, at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida.
UP is the largest state in the country, and under the leadership of Hon’ble PM Modi and Hon’ble CM Yogi, the state has worked on strengthening its infrastructure. Earlier, many entrepreneurs were hesitant to invest here. But during the UP Global Investors Summit 2023, over 19,000 MoUs were signed, reflecting investment intents worth approximately ₹33.5 lakh crore, He discussed that this is a very important topic today at this conference many views have been shared regarding the country’s preparedness for such situation.
He further appreciated PHDCCI for working hand in hand with the government for the past 120 years and said that the UP government is consistently working towards the goal of becoming a $1 trillion economy. After agriculture, the MSME sector is the second-largest contributor to India’s economy in terms of employment generation and GDP contribution. Nearly 1.75 crore people have gained employment through MSMEs, and it plays a very significant role in the GSDP of UP.
Uttar Pradesh is moving ahead as a growth engine, the government has recently allotted a sizeable land for a textile manufacturing park in Kanpur and I further urge investors to invest in UP and participate in the state’s vision.
Shri Rajendra Singh, Member & HOD, National Disaster Management Authority, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India discussed that while disasters don’t announce themselves, unpreparedness always does. He added, each life lost and every economic setback is a reminder that preparedness is not just essential but non-negotiable.
He further informed that NDMA has developed comprehensive protocols on chemical and industrial safety and shared that in the past two years, the focus has been on mock drills to enhance real-time preparedness. He informed that Last year, the Hon’ble Home Minister highlighted the need for action in industrial businesses. The 15th Finance Commission allocated ₹5,000 crore to states for expansion and modernisation of fire services, with ₹700 crore allocated to Uttar Pradesh.
Mr Singh deliberated that the success of these initiatives depends on partnership and cooperation, and it is up to the states to utilise the funds. Out of the ₹2.28 lakh crore allocated, 40% has been utilised to provide relief, 30% for rebuilding, 20% for mitigation, and 10% for capacity building. He also advised everyone to take this seriously, learn from past incidents, and be prepared for the future.
Shri Shashank Chaudhary, IAS, ACEO, Invest UP, highlighted upon the investment opportunities in UP. He said UP is the only state with 13 expressways (6 operational and 7 upcoming), the highest number of international airports, and one of the largest numbers of domestic airports. It also has a rapid transport system, enabling sustainable transportation.
He informed that the current GSDP of the state is around $350 billion and that 56% of the total population is in the working age group. Further, UP has an ecosystem of 3,000+ Industrial Training Institutes. On the industrial ecosystem, he stated that the state has the highest number of MSMEs in India (9.6 million), with a 15% YoY growth in the manufacturing sector, contributing 11% to the state’s GSDP. He also mentioned the presence of district-wise export clusters for 75 unique One-District One-Product (ODOP) items and said the government is actively focusing on investment.
He concluded that the state has a favourable business environment, currently ranked 2nd in the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) rankings. To attract foreign investment, the state government has launched the UP FDI-FCI policy. He also discussed platforms like Nivesh Mitra and Nivesh Sarathi, along with the Online Incentive Management System, which reflect the government’s commitment to investor facilitation through digital governance.
Shri Sunil Kumar Jha, IPS, Director General Fire Services, Civil Defence & Home Guards, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India discussed how North India especially the Delhi-NCR region is an important industrial corridor, but it also poses various disaster risks. He noted the aging infrastructure and inadequate fire safety equipment in many industries. He highlighted the need for proper fire and disaster preparedness, especially for small-scale industries.
Mr. Jha also noted that climate-induced heat waves further increase the complexity of disaster response. The central government has introduced the Fire Safety Bill to bring about uniformity which has been implemented in Uttar Pradesh. Various campaigns are being promoted across educational institutions through the department’s portal, time-to-time advisories are issued. He informed that BIS issues the National Building Code and that a new version will be released by 2025.
Further he called upon all stakeholders to collaborate and focus on smart fire-fighting technologies, AI, robust training for first responders, and investment in fire research and development making fire safety not just a compliance requirement, but a corporate necessity, responsibility, and priority.
Shri Hemant Sapra, Co–Chair, UP State Chapter, PHDCCI, spoke about PHDCCI providing such a platform where stronger policies and environments can be created, as the life of every individual and worker is important. He informed that PHDCCI has been working for the safety issues for the past 30–35 years. Fortunately, the government has created policies and infrastructure that ensure safety and implementation.
He added that BIS has also upgraded the standards of safety products. He also emphasised that 100% implementation must be ensured and that a conscious effort is needed to maintain safety both personally and in one’s surroundings.
Shri Vivek Agarwala, Co– Chair, UP State Chapter, PHDCCI, discussed on how this conference on industrial safety, fire safety, and disaster response is aligned with PM’s vision of Viksit Bharat. He said that PHDCCI is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, and aligning with the government’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, both for the country and Uttar Pradesh is the chamber’s goal.
This 4th edition of UFSEC is a step in that direction, focusing on deliberations on such vital issues. There should be One Nation, One Policy, One System, as currently every state has a different policy. We want one unified policy for better resource utilisation, added Mr. Agarwala.
Dr. Ranjeet Mehta CEO and Secretary General, PHDCCI discussed that Safety is one of the most important aspects of our lives. Today, there is a need to be aware and prepared. It begins with each citizen understanding its importance and even one act of negligence can cost millions of lives. In a rapidly changing world, awareness of safety at every phase is essential. This expo and conference is a platform to discuss these critical issues and we are truly honoured to have such luminaries here to deliberate on this crucial topic.
He added, nothing is more powerful than protected and well-lived lives. If safety becomes a habit and health is prioritised, then success follows naturally.
Dr. SP Garg, Conference Convenor & Former Executive Director, GAIL (HSE) India Ltd spoke on the theme of the 4th edition of UFSEC and said the conference is critical, as 4% of the world’s GDP is lost due to such incidents. Therefore, we need to seriously discuss and strategise ways to create safer work environments both on and off campus.
Shri Mahesh Kudav, President, Safety Appliances Manufacturers Association and Shri Rajendra Sankhe, Chief Operating Officer, Indorama India Pvt. Ltd. also deliberated on various aspects of safety in the industry. The conference witnessed over 100 exhibitors participated, underscoring the global relevance of industrial safety, fire prevention, and disaster preparedness. The participation of both national and international stakeholders reflects a shared commitment towards building resilient industrial ecosystems and fostering cross-border collaboration on safety standards and technologies. Revolving around the theme “Building a Safe, Sustainable, and Resilient Tomorrow,” UFSEC 2025 aims to foster co-learning through knowledge sharing, promote meaningful interactions among stakeholders, and establish new partnerships and networks.
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Warm Regards,
Media Division, PHDCCI