Lucknow, Dec 30 (KNN) The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has given loans worth over Rs 2,12,454 crore to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in the last three-and-a-half years compared to previous government in five years, said additional chief secretary, MSME, Navneet Sehgal.

"Uttar Pradesh is at the second position in the country in ease of doing business. Even during the coronavirus pandemic, the Chief Minister distributed loans to industries by holding mega loan fairs four times. As a result, loans have been given to MSMEs on a large scale. New investors have invested around Rs two lakh crore in UP," he said on Wednesday.

As per the data issued by MSME department, loans to the tune of Rs 46,594 crore were given to MSMEs in the first year of the Yogi Adityanath government (2017-18).

The loan amount went up to Rs 57,808 crore in 2018-19 and Rs 71,080 crore in 2019-20.

Till September this year, loans of Rs 36,972 crore have been given taking the total of last three years to Rs 2,12,454 crore.

Sehgal also said that the government had worked on many important aspects of governance, including law and order, along with changing policies of 21 departments to promote industries in the state.

''MSMEs have used the loans to increase their capacities. Besides, 6,79,647 new units have also been set up with the help of loans given under schemes like Pradhan Mantri Employment Generation Programme, Mukhya Mantri Yuva Swarozgar Yojana, Mukhya Mantri Gramodyog Rozgar Yojana, and One District One Product scheme, Sehgal added.