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- Decentralization backbone of development
- Visakhapatnam to become India’s next global IT, financial capital
- Accelerating infrastructure with port, airport, corridor projects
- Focus shifted from ‘ease of doing business’ to ‘speed of doing business
- Promised new industrial, IT, electronics policies to attract investments Minister for HRD, IT, and Electronics Nara Lokesh outlined an ambitious roadmap aimed at positioning the Andhra Pradesh as the nation’s top economic leader by 2047. Addressing the Infrastructure Summit organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Andhra Pradesh branch at Visakhapatnam’s Novotel Hotel, Lokesh underscored the State’s focus on infrastructure as a key driver of growth. Lokesh emphasized that under Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership, decentralization is central to the State’s growth strategy. “We are not focusing on a singular growth model. Our approach is sector-specific development across districts,” he said. For instance, Kurnool is set to become a renewable energy hub, targeting 72 gigawatts of power generation through hydro, wind, and solar projects in the next five years. Other focus areas include automotive manufacturing in Anantapur, electronics in Chittoor and Kadapa, biofuels in Prakasam, and a thriving aqua products industry in the Godavari districts. A significant thrust will also be on developing green energy in the Godavari region, which will host the country’s largest petrochemical corridor. Lokesh added, “Over the past five years, infrastructure has been neglected, but we are committed to rectifying this with planned, sustainable growth.” With its sights set on global leadership, the State aims to make Visakhapatnam the world’s premier IT hub. “We are building an international-level data center, and with the development of Bhogapuram International Airport, Visakhapatnam and the entire Uttarandhra region will witness unprecedented economic transformation,” said Lokesh. He also announced plans to make Visakhapatnam a trillion-dollar economy and develop it as India’s financial capital. Key initiatives include the establishment of a dedicated freight corridor and the acceleration of the Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor. The State is shifting its focus from ‘ease of doing business’ to ‘speed of doing business,’ promising new industrial, IT, and electronics policies designed to attract major investments. Lokesh called upon industrialists and investors to join hands with the government to fulfill its mission of creating 20 lakh jobs within the next five years. Lokesh said that State government would not allow privatization of Visakhapatnam steel plant.
- Minister for Roads, Buildings, Infrastructure, and Investments BC Janardhan Reddy said four gateway ports—Ramayapatnam, Machilipatnam, Bhavanapadu, and Kakinada—are being constructed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with a total investment of Rs. 17,000 crore. He highlighted the rapid development of Bhogapuram International Airport, which will become a major link for international and domestic air traffic. “The strategic development of industrial corridors, including the Visakhapatnam-Chennai, Hyderabad-Chennai, and Chennai-Bangalore corridors, is progressing at an unprecedented pace, reinforcing our commitment to building world-class infrastructure,” the minister added. Visakha MP Muthukumilli Sribharat urged industrialists to invest in housing projects using advanced technology to complement the state’s rapid development. CII AP Branch chairman V Muralikrishna, GMR Airports Business chairman GBS Raju, CII Visakha Zone chairman Grandhi Rajesh, E Shankar Rao, V Ajay Kumar participated.