PNS|Hyderabad
The Andhra Pradesh government held the last of its domestic road shows in Hyderabad on Friday as part of the run-up to the Global Investors Summit 2023 which is scheduled exactly one week away on March 3 and 4 in Visakhapatnam.
Andhra Pradesh showcased its rich natural resources, large investments in infrastructure, land bank and intensive reforms in rules and regulations at an investor meeting in Hyderabad. These efforts, taken together, position Andhra Pradesh as the state where abundance meets prosperity. Speaking at the event, Gudivada Amarnath, the AP Minister for Industries, Infrastructure, Investment & Commerce, Information Technology, Handlooms & Textiles, said that they had a very positive response so far in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.
“I believe that industry meets can enhance collaboration and synergy throughout the nation’s business community,” he said.
Declaring that the city of Hyderabad is very dear to the people of Andhra Pradesh, Amarnath said, “This is the city where the North meets the South, Biology meets Technology and Life Sciences marries Data Sciences.”
He also pointed out the similarities between Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, the venue of the summit. He said that Visakhapatnam has always been a strong industrial hub with its own PSU base, port-led infrastructure and sector strengths, especially in IT, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, textiles, steel, heavy industry and defence.
“Vishakhapatnam is the largest city in Andhra Pradesh and will serve as its administrative headquarters,” he said.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh aims to minimise the cost of conducting business, and make the regulatory environment more business-friendly by offering best-in-class facilities, hassle-free setup, skilled talent and end-to-end hand-holding assistance.
Amarnath also said that the AP government will shortly introduce a forward-looking industrial policy in a new avatar with emphasis on driving economic growth across key sectors, promoting port-led industrial development, end-to-end investor facilitation skilling and employment generation, promoting entrepreneurship and the start-up culture, inclusive and balanced regional development.
“We will provide a one-stop digital platform for all domestic and foreign investments through our Andhra Pradesh Single Desk Portal. The business-specific approvals for setting up businesses are granted within a maximum timeframe of 21 days,” he added.
Buggana Rajendranath Reddy, the AP Minister for Finance & Planning, Commercial Taxes, Legislative Affairs, Skill Development & Training, who is also the driving force at the roadshows across the country was also present. He said that AP is spending a significant part of its budget on developing air connectivity, with a greenfield international airport coming up at Bhogapuram near Visakhapatnam at a cost of Rs 2,500 crore (USD 300 Million)
“AP has 888 km of the national waterway. We intend to develop inland waterways, which will reduce the cost of logistics for moving cargo within and outside the state. 27 locations have been identified as prioritized terminals. The waterways will have the potential to handle 10 MT by 2029, which will reduce the cost of logistics and promote exports,” said Rajendranath.
The ministries, state government institutions and officers from various departments had an open interaction with the investing community of Hyderabad promising to handhold potential investors and facilitate the fastest turnaround time.
The presentations showcased the present and upcoming infrastructure and the conducive policy environment of the state. Agriculture, agro-based industries, maritime sector, manufacturing, food processing, ports, IT and electronics, handlooms, and textiles attracted significant interest.
The event was attended by C. Sekhar Reddy, the Vice-Chairman of CII Telangana State Council and Chairman & Managing Director, CSR Estates Ltd, Dr Srijana Gummalla, IAS, Director, Industries, Commerce & Export Promotion and Vice Chairperson & Managing Director of AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation and the CEO of AP Economic Development Board, Bharat Thota, the COO of AP Food Processing Society, Sagil Shanmohan, IAS, the CEO of the AP Maritime Board, Saurabh Gaur, IAS, Secretary, IT, Electronics & Communications department, K. Sunitha, IAS, Principal Secretary, Handlooms & Textiles, K. Vijayanand, IAS, Special Chief Secretary, Energy, Ravichandra Reddy, the Chairman of APTPC and Bandi Nagendra Punyaseela, the Chairperson of APIDC
