‘Most-Attractive Investment Destination’ Tag for Andhra Pradesh

 Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh has emerged as the nation’s “most attractive investment destination,” capturing a commanding 25.3% share of all proposed investments during the first nine months of FY26.

Citing a recent report by Bank of Baroda, IT and Electronics minister, Nara Lokesh, said the numbers validated the state government’s reform-driven approach.

The performance places the state well ahead of neighbouring Odisha (13.1 per cent) and also Maharashtra (12.8 per cent.

The report says more than half of the nation’s proposed capital investments—51.2 per cent—are now concentrated in just three states: Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra, with AP clearly leading the pack.

Across the country, total investment announcements during the April–December period stood at Rs 26.6 lakh crore, reflecting a robust 11.5 per cent growth over the corresponding period the previous year.

Lokesh said, “Andhra Pradesh isn’t catching up, it’s pulling ahead. This is the result of consistent reforms, speed in decision-making and an unambiguous commitment to investors. Our focus has been clear—create a predictable policy environment, enable industry at scale and deliver on the ground,” he said.

Officials attributed the surge in investment interest to a combination of investor-friendly governance, time-bound approvals, sector-specific policies and a sustained infrastructure push.

Significant investments have been announced across manufacturing, renewable energy, electronics, data centres, mobility solutions and core infrastructure, supported by improvements in ports, industrial corridors, logistics, energy and digital networks.

Industry observers note that AP’s rising share of national investments signals a broader realignment of the nation’s growth momentum towards the eastern and southern corridors, with the state increasingly seen as a destination that offers scale, connectivity and long-term policy certainty.

Reiterating the government’s priorities, Lokesh said the focus would remain on converting investment announcements into tangible outcomes. “Every investment must translate into factories, jobs and economic opportunity for our people,” he added.