Inaugurating the 4th Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS) in Greater Noida, Union Home Minister Amit Shah fired a direct salvo at foreign and domestic critics who question India’s growth trajectory. Addressing a massive gathering just 40 kilometers from Parliament, Shah countered recent global rhetoric—including past “dead economy” jibes by US President Donald Trump—with a stinging reality check.
“Those who see India as a ‘dead economy’ have a dead mindset themselves. That is why they cannot see India’s vibrancy and growth.” — Amit Shah, Union Home Minister
Shah highlighted India’s 7.8% GDP growth rate, sovereign rating upgrades by agencies like JCR (to A-), and Moody’s revised growth forecasts as undeniable proof of economic strength.
INDIA'S MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS
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| Metric / Rating Agency | Recent Performance / Upgrade |
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| Quarterly GDP Growth | 7.8% (Fastest among major economies) |
| Moody's Growth Forecast | Upgraded from 6% to 7% |
| JCR Sovereign Rating | Upgraded from BBB+ to A- |
| July Monthly GST Collection | Record ₹2.11 Lakh Crore |
| Capital Expenditure | Crossed Record ₹12.2 Lakh Crore |
| Electronic Exports (vs 2015) | Increased 11-Fold |
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From ‘Fragile 5’ to Global Manufacturing Powerhouse
Reflecting on 12 years of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, launched on September 25, 2014, Shah noted that India moved from the ‘Fragile 5’ economies to the top 5 globally. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policy stability and economic foundation laid by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.
The Home Minister emphasized that India continues to expand global trade through Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with key partners, including the UK, UAE, European Union, and Oman.
MAJOR INDIA FTA PARTNERSHIPS
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| United Kingdom (UK) | European Union (EU) | United Arab Emirates (UAE) |
| Oman | Mauritius | EFTA (4 European Nations) |
| New Zealand | Austria | |
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UP Transformed: Crime Hub Replaced by Defense Corridor
Shah praised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for wiping out mafia rule and creating a safe investment climate in Uttar Pradesh. He pointed out that illegal firearm hubs have now transformed into a multi-node Defence Corridor.
UP DEFENCE CORRIDOR & INDUSTRIAL NODES
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| Corridor Nodes | Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Lucknow, Agra, Aligarh, Kanpur |
| National Defence Prod | ₹1,78,000 Crore Total Value |
| Defence Export Surge | 56x Growth since 2013-14 (Exporting to 80 Nations) |
| Key Weapons Made in UP| BrahMos Missiles, AK-203 Assault Rifles |
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Driving Towards a $1-Trillion Economy Goal
The 2026 trade show builds on the massive success of the 2025 edition, which drew over 5 lakh visitors and generated thousands of crores in investment via 2,400 MoUs.
Shah also launched the ‘One District, One Cuisine’ (ODOC) portal to take regional delicacies like Agra’s Petha and Varanasi’s Malaiyo nationwide. Backed by Metro networks in seven cities and the upcoming Noida International Airport, Uttar Pradesh is rapidly progressing toward its $1-trillion economy goal.
