31 MoUs Exchanged as Ministers Pitch Andhra Pradesh as Global Manufacturing Hub

Thirty-one Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) regional summit held at IIM, Visakhapatnam, where Andhra Pradesh’s industrial and infrastructure plans were presented to investors.

Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu and Andhra Pradesh Infrastructure and Investments Minister B.C. Janardhan Reddy pitched the State as a premier destination for global manufacturing.

The summit brought together investment proposals, aviation projects, transport infrastructure, logistics initiatives and local enterprises as part of the State’s effort to connect regional industry with global value chains.

Faster clearances and project execution

Mr. Rammohan Naidu asserted that India continued to scale new heights at a 7.8% GDP growth rate.

He said 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 said the APIAIC single-window mechanism ensures transparent clearances within six to 12 months.

The Ministers emphasised that minimising bureaucratic delays remained a top priority in the government’s investor-friendly approach.

According to the summit presentation, industrial policies have been tailored to help projects move rapidly from the drawing board to commercial operation.

The single-window clearance mechanism is intended to provide predictable timelines to global enterprises and enable operational readiness without procedural bottlenecks.

Aviation expansion across the State

Mr. Rammohan Naidu highlighted the pace of aviation infrastructure development, pointing to the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram.

The airport 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,” he said.

Site clearances have been secured for airports at Kuppam and Srikakulam, as well as a drone city in Kurnool.

The State has also secured clearances for an aerospace hub in Puttaparthi and a Hamsa trainer aircraft manufacturing unit in Kuppam.

The government aims to train 5,000 aviation professionals, linking the expansion of aviation infrastructure with the development of specialised talent.

Roads, ports and logistics technology

Detailing Andhra Pradesh’s transport roadmap, Mr. Janardhan Reddy said the State was recently recognised as an “Accelerator” in the LEADS-2025 report.

The State has a road network spanning 1.6 lakh km, while infrastructure projects worth over ₹1 lakh crore are currently underway.

The sanction of the ₹31,000 crore Amaravati Outer Ring Road is part of the transport expansion outlined at the summit.

Three greenfield ports, Machilipatnam, Ramayapatnam, and Mulapeta, are scheduled for completion by March 2027.

The ports are expected to help redefine maritime trade, according to the State’s infrastructure roadmap.

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

The emphasis on predictable clearances, road connectivity, ports and digital logistics tools formed the infrastructure component of the State’s pitch to global manufacturers.

Investment proposals and global participation

Officials reported that Andhra Pradesh had attracted ₹8.67 lakh crore in investment proposals through 216 mega projects over the past two years.

Foreign direct investment surged from $92 million in 2023, 24 to $608 million in 2025, 26.

Global industry leaders including Google, ArcelorMittal-Nippon Steel, NTPC, Tata Power, and Reliance have committed substantial capital, officials said.

The participation of these companies was presented as evidence of growing investor confidence in the State.

The 31 MoUs exchanged during the summit added to the focus on converting investor interest into industrial activity.

Local enterprises and global value chains

The summit also featured an industrial exhibition involving 25 regional enterprises.

The enterprises displayed products across hydraulics, metallurgy, health tech and traditional goods.

The exhibition included Araku Coffee, Ponduru Khadi, and Madugula Halwa.

State Ministers T.G. Bharat and B.C. Janardhan Reddy visited the stalls.

Their visit underlined the administration’s commitment to integrating local micro, small and medium enterprises with global value chains and fostering inclusive regional development.

Source: The Hindu