AP SIPB approves 28 projects worth ₹22,177.84 crore, with 19,739 jobs expected. CM Naidu focuses on ports, electronics, logistics, green energy and skills.
Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) has approved 28 industrial proposals involving investments of ₹22,177.84 crore, with the projects expected to create employment opportunities for 19,739 people.
The 21st SIPB meeting, chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at the Secretariat, considered proposals across sectors including energy, information technology and communications, food processing, manufacturing and tourism.
The latest approvals add to the State's broader investment pipeline. According to the State government, 387 projects have been approved through 21 SIPB meetings so far, representing a potential investment of ₹14.05 lakh crore and employment opportunities for 10.79 lakh people.
Naidu directed officials to develop a comprehensive port infrastructure ecosystem along Andhra Pradesh's coastline, integrating ports with logistics, shipbuilding, warehousing, manufacturing and ancillary industries.
He called for greater commercial utilisation of land around ports and asked officials to prepare integrated development plans covering logistics, shipbuilding and industrial activities.
The Chief Minister also directed officials to expand shipbuilding capabilities not only for cargo vessels but also for defence and tourism requirements.
He emphasised the need to connect ports with railways, roads, air cargo and inland waterways to develop Andhra Pradesh as a logistics hub.
The State's PPP project pipeline also includes port and shipbuilding projects at locations including Dugarajapatnam, Machilipatnam, Ramayapatnam and Mulapeta.
Naidu said Andhra Pradesh should position itself as a major hardware manufacturing destination and attract investments in advanced sectors such as semiconductors, chip manufacturing and robotics.
The Chief Minister said the State should move beyond assembly and manufacturing to create complete ecosystems covering research, design and manufacturing.
Similar ecosystems should be developed for solar panel manufacturing, including ancillary industries, technology, skills and supporting infrastructure, he said.
Minister for IT and Electronics Nara Lokesh said discussions were underway with Taiwan to develop an electronics and hardware manufacturing ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh.
The Chief Minister directed officials to facilitate research and manufacturing institutions in emerging areas including quantum technology and high-performance computing.
He also called for a comprehensive plan to establish cluster industries around drone and space cities and connect them with allied industries.
Naidu directed officials to ensure that projects approved by the SIPB move quickly from approval to implementation.
He called for a six-month timeline for each approved project, with efforts to ensure that work begins within that period.
The government had earlier directed officials to accelerate the grounding of approved industrial projects and establish a dashboard to monitor approvals, implementation and employment generation.
The Chief Minister also stressed the need to make Andhra Pradesh's youth future-ready through early and industry-linked skill development.
Officials were directed to undertake skill mapping from Class 10 onwards and integrate skill-development programmes with PM-SETU.
Naidu called for expansion of industry-linked training facilities, citing the Adani Skill Development Centre in Visakhapatnam, which provides training including facilities connected with civil aviation.
Lokesh said specialised skills in areas such as materials research would also be necessary to support future manufacturing industries.
Officials informed the meeting that several cement companies had expressed interest in establishing a Cement Centre of Excellence.
Naidu directed officials to prepare an action plan to identify opportunities for women entrepreneurs, assess existing businesses and challenges, and examine policies implemented in other States.
He said sectors such as agriculture-based industries and food processing could provide additional opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
The Chief Minister also called for promotion of the “One Family–One Entrepreneur” approach to expand MSMEs across Andhra Pradesh.
The meeting also discussed opportunities to develop Andhra Pradesh as a hub for rare earth minerals.
Naidu directed officials to prepare an action plan covering rare-earth processing, value-added industries, research and manufacturing.
He also called for greater exploration of solar and wind power, along with energy-storage options such as pumped storage and battery energy storage.
Officials informed the meeting that investments had already been secured for 113.75 GW out of the State's targeted 160 GW green-energy capacity.
Naidu directed officials to work towards achieving the net-zero goal at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), with emphasis on electric buses and charging infrastructure.
The meeting was informed that permissions had been granted for 511 electric-vehicle charging stations across the State.
Officials also discussed onshore wind power generation and preparations for a Hydrogen Valley Conference at SRM University on December 17 and 18.
With the Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam scheduled in November, Naidu directed officials to initiate steps for setting up escrow accounts to facilitate investor incentives.
He also called for greater development of hotels and hospitality infrastructure and asked officials to invite reputed international brands to invest in the State.
With around 50 days remaining for the summit, the Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that previously signed agreements are grounded by then.
The latest SIPB decisions underline the State government's focus on combining industrial investment with port-led development, advanced manufacturing, logistics, renewable energy and
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