LUCKNOW, Dec. 16 -- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday met Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran to review the progress of the Group's existing projects in UP, and discussed their expansion and new investment proposals. The meeting saw wide-ranging deliberations on long-term cooperation in sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), information technology, electronics, defence manufacturing, energy, renewable energy, electric vehicles (EVs), tourism, skill development and the digital economy, according to an official statement. Chandrasekaran proposed the development of an 'AI City' in Lucknow, aimed at positioning Uttar Pradesh as a global hub for artificial intelligence, the statement said. The project is expected to strengthen the startup ecosystem and generate thousands of employment opportunities based on future technologies. The two sides also reviewed the progress of a Rs 48-crore Centre of Excellence being developed in Gorakhpur, which is expected to provide advanced technical training and opportunities, particularly for youth from the Purvanchal region. Discussions were also held on setting up a Global Capability Centre (GCC) in the state and expanding Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) units in Lucknow, Noida and Varanasi. The proposal to increase the workforce at TCS Lucknow and Noida centres from 16,000 to 30,000 was described as a significant boost to the state's digital talent pool. Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with IIT-Kanpur, Tata Group initiatives will train youth in emerging areas such as AI, cybersecurity, data science, 3D printing, drones and space technology, helping create an industry-ready workforce, the statement said. During the discussions, Tata Sons chairman also proposed to invest in the production of mobile devices and other components, subject to the state government's approval. Chandrasekaran mentioned that the Group has signed an MoU with Intel to promote manufacturing of electronic products in the state. He discussed increasing manufacturing of electric buses, other vehicles, and their new models in the state. He also proposed increasing Tata Group's investment in the rapidly developing Defence Corridor in the state and highlighted the Group's contributions to UP's defence industrial nodes, including Babina, where the focus is on the production of drones, missiles and defence vehicles. The chairman mentioned Tata Group's acquisition of 25,000 acres of land in Jhansi under BIDA and expansion of the project Chief minister Adityanath said the state government is committed to providing a stable policy framework, transparent systems and a business-friendly environment for investors. He expressed confidence that the multi-dimensional partnership with Tata Group would take the state's economy, employment generation and technological self-reliance to new heights. The meeting was termed as a significant milestone towards the state's goal of becoming a trillion-dollar economy....