Ministers pitch Andhra Pradesh as global manufacturing hub at CII regional summit in Vizag

Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu and Andhra Pradesh Infrastructure and Investments Minister B.C. Janardhan Reddy pitched Andhra Pradesh as a premier destination for global manufacturing at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) regional summit held at IIM, Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.

Mr. Rammohan Naidu asserted that India continued to scale new heights at a 7.8% GDP growth rate, while Andhra Pradesh was accelerating under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, with Nara Lokesh playing a vital role in driving economic progress.

Stressing that “time is the new investment,” the Union Minister noted that the APIAIC single-window mechanism ensures transparent clearances within six to 12 months.

Single-window clearance

Highlighting the government’s investor-friendly approach, the Ministers emphasised that minimising bureaucratic delays remains a top priority. Industrial policies are tailored to ensure that project execution moves rapidly from the drawing board to commercial operation. The single-window clearance mechanism offers predictable timelines, reassuring global enterprises that operational readiness can be achieved swiftly, without procedural bottlenecks.

Aviation expansion

Mr. Rammohan Naidu highlighted the rapid pace of aviation infrastructure, pointing to the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram, which was completed in just 31 months—six months ahead of schedule.

“Regional connectivity is expanding at a remarkable speed, with new airports acting as mini-economic hubs that spur cargo, tourism, and food processing. Site clearances have been secured for Kuppam and Srikakulam airports, alongside a drone city in Kurnool, an aerospace hub in Puttaparthi, and a Hamsa trainer aircraft manufacturing unit in Kuppam. The State also aims to train 5,000 aviation professionals,” he said.

Logistics overhaul

Detailing the State’s transport roadmap, Mr. Janardhan Reddy noted that Andhra Pradesh was recently recognised as an “Accelerator” in the LEADS-2025 report. With a road network spanning 1.6 lakh km, infrastructure projects worth over ₹1 lakh crore are currently underway. The sanction of the ₹31,000 crore Amaravati Outer Ring Road and the scheduled completion of three greenfield ports—Machilipatnam, Ramayapatnam, and Mulapeta—by March 2027 are set to redefine maritime trade.

To optimise supply chains, the government has launched AP-LINK, the Transport Connect app, and a Logistics Analytics Dashboard.

Global partnerships

Officials reported that the State had attracted ₹8.67 lakh crore in investment proposals through 216 mega projects over the past two years. Foreign direct investment (FDI) surged from $92 million in 2023–24 to $608 million in 2025–26. Global industry leaders such as Google, ArcelorMittal-Nippon Steel, NTPC, Tata Power, and Reliance have committed substantial capital, reflecting growing investor confidence. Thirty-one Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged during the summit.

Local innovation and MSMEs

The summit featured an industrial exhibition involving 25 regional enterprises displaying diverse products spanning hydraulics, metallurgy, health tech, and traditional goods like Araku Coffee, Ponduru Khadi, and Madugula Halwa.

State Ministers T.G. Bharat and B.C. Janardhan Reddy visited the stalls, underlining the administration’s commitment to integrating local MSMEs with global value chains to foster inclusive regional development.