Uttar Pradesh’s Excise Investors’ Summit – its first-ever dedicated to the alcohol sector – was held in Lucknow on July 9, 2025, drawing INR 4,320 crore worth of fresh investment proposals. Organized by the Excise Department in partnership with Invest UP, the one-day event aimed to showcase the state as a prime hub for liquor manufacturing and allied industries, reflecting its rapid transformation into a manufacturing powerhouse.
Summit Overview & Objectives
- First-of-its-kind event exclusively focused on alcohol-based industries, featuring investors, startups, industrial groups, and operators across segments like breweries, distilleries, and wineries.
- Designed to highlight UP’s streamlined excise policy, single-window clearance, e‑governance tools, and licensing simplification aimed at easing investor entry.
Investment Proposals & MoU Momentum
- The summit secured INR 4,320 crore in new investment interest, with 15 companies proposing projects across at least 15 districts including Gorakhpur, Lucknow, and Mathura.
- 135 MoUs have already been inked via the Invest UP portal, totaling INR 39,479 crore and envisioned to generate over 73,500 jobs.
- Of these, 46 projects are land-ready (INR 7,888 crore in committed investment), and 19 units are already operational (INR 2,339 crore and ~2,316 jobs).
Sectoral Growth & Economic Impact
- UP's alcohol and beverage sector generated INR 56,000 crore in FY 2023–24, contributing about 2.4% of the state GDP.
- This industry accounts for roughly 25% of UP’s tax revenue, with the Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) segment growing at ~10% annually.
- The sector supports approximately 5.3 lakh livelihoods, spanning agriculture, processing, packaging, logistics, hospitality, and retail.
Policy Reforms & Ease-of-Doing-Business
- Since 2018, UP has dismantled regional license monopolies and introduced uniform excise regulations, digital licensing, e‑lottery systems, and composite retail outlets, limiting licenses per entity to promote competition.
- Notable innovations include allowing alcohol outlets in shopping malls (with INR 12 lakh per year licensing), licensing simplification via e-governance, and single-window approvals.
Noteworthy Project & Industry Response
- A Maharashtra-based firm plans to launch UP’s inaugural winery under the UP wine policy.
- Superior Industries Limited committed INR 74 crore to expand its unit, praising UP’s efficient single‑window clearance.
- UP also opened its first fruit-based winery in Malihabad, producing wine and mead from local fruits – eligible for five years of excise duty exemption.
Government Vision & Long-Term Outlook
- Excise Minister Nitin Agarwal underscored that the summit and policy reforms support CM Yogi Adityanath’s goal to elevate UP’s economy to USD 1 trillion.
- Excise Commissioner Adarsh Singh reaffirmed commitment to integrate stakeholder feedback into future policies.
- Plans include revisiting the excise policy to boost alcohol exports, broaden investor engagement, and develop associated clusters across packaging, logistics, and input supply.
Summing Up
The UP Excise Department’s inaugural Alcohol Industry Summit marks a pivotal shift in the state’s industrial strategy – showcasing coordinated policy reform, effective stakeholder collaboration, and economic diversification. With INR 4,320 crore in fresh proposals and a track record of INR 39,479 crore from signed MoUs, UP is clearly on the path to becoming a national manufacturing hub for alcoholic beverages. Supported by expanding infrastructure, cutting-edge governance, and strong political will, the sector is poised to not only drive tax revenues but also generate significant employment, foster rural development, and achieve global competitiveness.
