Vijayawada: Special Chief Secretary, industries and commerce department Karikal Valven said the government was working towards creating industrial zones, industrial clusters with special facilities and incentives to attract investments.
Addressing a meeting of Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI) on Tuesday on ‘Accelerating Industrial Progress in Andhra Pradesh and Way Forward’, Karikal Valven said along the three industrial corridors of the state, namely, Visakhapatnam-Chennai-industrial corridor (VCIC), Chennai- Bengaluru industrial corridor (CBIC), and Kurnool- Bengaluru-industrial corridor (KBIC), the government would develop 10 industrial nodes and create transport linkages and support infrastructure with separate policies.
Valven stated that industries would be allowed to buy power from open access at competitive prices and the nodes would have their own industry distribution license.
FACCI president CV Atchut Rao, in his opening remarks, said to have more funds for welfare schemes, AP’s economy needed to be put on a higher economic growth path which could only happen if AP succeeded in attracting massive investments from the private sector. He thanked the AP government for announcing a Rs 1,110 crore package to support the industrial sector, especially MSMEs, battered by Covid-19.
P. Vijay Gopal Reddy from Ferro Alloys Association raised some issues that are making the cost of power more expensive compared to other states. It is said that tariff disparity between 132 KV & 33 KV and demand for three months amount as security deposit, recent orders on fuel supply cost are contributing to higher power cost in the state.
Karunendra S. Jasti highlighted various issues faced by the industries such as the recent proposal to link property tax to market value of the property, hike in various fees like Pollution Control Board fees, fire department consent fee and tax on sign boards, which are contributing to the rise in costs. He emphasised that the share of the manufacturing sector in APGSDP was only 9.0 percent compared to about 16 per cent at national level and immediate measures were needed to support industries and raise manufacturing share.
Hema Yadlavalli, president, ladies wing, Visakhapatnam Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Koti Rao from AP Spinning Mills, Vitta Satish, managing committee member, FAPCCI and others spoke.
