Naidu promises industry a taste of Andhra spice

Promising transparency, good governance and a state free of red tape, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his team of officials on Tuesday went all out to hardsell the state to investors. 

With a 1,000-km coastline, fertile land for agriculture and large tracts of land available for industry, the state provides an investor-friendly atmosphere, Naidu said.

Presenting an array of opportunities for industry in the new state, the chief minister stressed on e-governance and speedy clearance of permissions for new investors. In fact, files not cleared within a certain timeframe will be deemed permitted, the officials assured.

Naidu has planned fourteen new ports for the state, with an aim to connect South East Asia and East Asia. 

Addressing an interactive meet in Bangalore, J S V Prasad, principal secretary Industries and Commerce Department, Andhra Pradesh, listed out several new projects coming up in the state: No-frills airports in addition to the four existing airports, strengthening of shipping activity and encouraging food processing units, Chennai-Bangalore and Vizag-Chennai corridors and multi-product SEZs, among others are being planned.

To encourage investors, the officials said large tracts of land for setting up projects are available in places like Nellore, Kadapa, Kurnool, Vishakhapatnam and Hindupur. The government is also working towards developing land banks.

In addition, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Tirupathi will be developed as mega cities with Metro rails planned in Guntur, Tirupathi, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. Visakhapatnam will also be developed as the IT hub of the state.

Brimming with zeal to put the new state on the international map, Naidu said the recent cyclone in his state will not be a setback, but in fact, provides him an opportunity to rebuild.