Investment Promotion Board Clears Proposals Worth ₹ 9,076-Crore
10,531 jobs likely; CM stresses on ethanol, tourism and green energy growth
VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government on Tuesday approved investments worth `9,076.11 crore across 11 projects that are expected to generate 10,531 employment opportunities.
Chairing the 19th meeting of the state investment promotion board on Tuesday, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu outlined an ambitious roadmap to strengthen the rural economy through industrialisation, ethanol production, tourism and green energy.
Among the projects approved were Mondelez India Foods Pvt Ltd.'s `1,801-crore food processing unit at Sri City, Akshat Greentech's `1,600-crore solar cell manufacturing unit, the Adani Foundation's `2,200-crore project at Kapuluppada, Berry Alloys' `1,200-crore integrated metals project, Eco Box Industrials' `1,008-crore logistics park in Visakhapatnam, the Geo Mysore gold mining project in Kurnool, logistics, hospitality and tourism ventures in Tirupati, Nellore, Kadapa and Vijayawada.
Naidu said industrial growth should create additional income avenues for farming families and help them evolve into entrepreneurs. He underlined that wealth creation and a circular economy would remain the cornerstone of the state's development strategy.
He called for aggressive promotion of the ethanol manufacturing sector, saying rising ethanol blending levels would significantly benefit maize farmers.
Naidu observed that increasing ethanol blending to 40 per cent would substantially enhance farmers' incomes and directed officials to encourage investments in ethanol production to meet the growing demand for fuel blending. He also asked officials to prepare a policy covering ethanol, methane and aviation fuel.
Emphasising value-addition in agriculture, the chief minister stressed the need to establish more food processing industries across the state to strengthen rural livelihoods.
Tourism emerged as another major focus area, with Naidu proposing the establishment of 100 Experience Centres at prominent tourist destinations across Andhra Pradesh. He said destinations including Thimmamma Marrimanu, Polavaram, Dindi, Gandikota, Kambham Cheruvu and Lambasingi should be developed into world-class tourism hubs.
The Jindal Group, he said, had expressed interest in establishing a resort near Lambasingi and Araku.
The chief minister also directed officials to promote AP’s rich handicrafts and cultural heritage, including Etikoppaka toys, Kondapalli toys, Dharmavaram silk, Mangalagiri textiles, Uppada sarees and Ponduru khadi. He wanted officials to expedite the Suryalanka Master Plan and fast-track tourism projects such as the Kangundi Fort development in Kuppam and an Elephant Safari in Chittoor district.
Highlighting the rapid growth of tourism infrastructure, Naidu noted that hotel accommodation in AP would increase from 4,390 rooms in 2024 to 13,753 rooms, with approvals already granted for 9,364 additional rooms over the past two years.
The chief minister also directed officials to position the state as a national hub for solar cell manufacturing by attracting investments in renewable energy. He asked them to expedite the establishment of the remaining 38 MSME Parks, integrate them with railway terminals to improve logistics, and establish a Logistics University and Skill Development Centres to enhance youth employability.
He said all new industries should be encouraged to adopt green energy and sought speedy grounding of the BPCL and AMCA projects.
Ministers K. Atchannaidu, Payyavula Keshav, Anagani Satya Prasad, P Narayana, Gottipati Ravi Kumar and Kandula Durgesh, along with chief secretary Sai Prasad, attended the meeting.
