Lucknow, April 27 -- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday presented Letters of Comfort (LoC) to 17 pharmaceutical companies and said the day marks a historic milestone for the state's industrial and healthcare sectors. He assured investors that Uttar Pradesh guarantees safety, stability, and speed, and is now recognised for trust and timely delivery. He emphasised that the state stands firmly with every reliable policy partner. "India is supplying affordable and high-quality medicines to around 200 countries," he said. Referring to the recent Pharma Conclave, he said it has elevated Uttar Pradesh's position on the global health-tech map. An investment of nearly Rs 2,000 crore in research and development will help take Uttar Pradesh to new heights and is expected to generate employment for over 10,000 skilled and unskilled youth. He highlighted that Uttar Pradesh is a large market with an industry-friendly environment, ample land bank, and a strong workforce. Currently, more than 21,000 startups are operating in the state. He also outlined the changes since 2017, noting that the number of factories has increased from 14,000 to 32,000, creating large-scale employment. The state has received investment proposals worth Rs 45 lakh crore so far, out of which Rs 15 lakh crore has already been implemented. Another Rs 7-8 lakh crore worth of proposals will soon be grounded. A pharma park is being developed over 1,500 acres in Lalitpur, while a 350-acre medical device park is under development in Noida, with over 100 companies already associated. Representatives of pharma companies expressed enthusiasm about investing in UP and confidence that under Adityanath's leadership, their investments will achieve significant growth. htc...