At the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS) in Greater Noida, the state’s traditional industries are being presented as engines of global commerce. Behind the polished stalls and international meetings, however, lies a far more difficult story: the revival of an MSME sector that was once close to collapse.

From industrial decline to economic revival

For years, Uttar Pradesh’s traditional manufacturing base faced poor law and order, limited access to finance, weak marketing networks, outdated technology and insufficient institutional support. The consequences were severe. Artisans, craftspeople and weavers increasingly left their communities in search of work, while industries associated with districts such as Moradabad, Bhadohi, Varanasi, Firozabad, Kannauj and Aligarh struggled to survive.

The shift began after 2017, when the state government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath introduced the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme. Its central idea was to identify and promote the distinctive traditional product of each of Uttar Pradesh’s 75 districts, preserve local skills and create employment close to home.

ODOP combines finance, technology and market access

The scheme was implemented through more than branding alone. The state worked to improve access to credit through programmes including MUDRA and Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana, enabling entrepreneurs and artisans to invest in expansion and modernisation.

Training focused on contemporary designs, quality control and improved packaging. Geographical Indication (GI) tagging was also used to reinforce product authenticity and strengthen the international standing of goods made in the state. Partnerships with e-commerce platforms then gave rural producers a route into digital marketplaces, reducing their dependence on traditional local channels.

Exports and employment gather momentum

The article says the strategy has helped revive thousands of MSME units and create substantial local employment, helping address youth migration. Uttar Pradesh’s exports have now crossed Rs 2 lakh crore, while products once largely confined to local markets are being sold internationally.

With the sector supporting the livelihoods of nearly four crore people, ODOP is being positioned as a major contributor to Uttar Pradesh’s ambition of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy.

UPITS takes local products to global buyers

The Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show is the next stage of that strategy. Held at India Expo Mart in Greater Noida, UPITS brings importers, investors and business representatives together with the state’s MSME units and artisans.

The event has attracted international buyers from multiple countries. Austria, Belarus, Japan, Russia, Singapore and Vietnam are participating as partner countries this year, while more than 1.5 lakh business representatives are expected to provide local entrepreneurs with opportunities to pursue international deals.

UPITS is also designed as a knowledge platform. Sessions on e-commerce and digital market access, brand building, free-trade-agreement benefits and new technology aim to help small businesses understand the demands of global trade, modern supply chains and international standards.

The broader message of the initiative is clear: Uttar Pradesh is seeking to move its traditional industries from production to exports. ODOP has supplied the local foundation, while UPITS is providing a global showcase for the state’s products and its ambitions as an international export hub.

Views expressed in the source article are the author’s own.