Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has prepared a comprehensive action plan for development of Visakhapatnam as a preferred tier-II destination for industrial investments.
CII Southern Region Chairman Mr. C.R. Swaminathan said CII would lay emphasis on development of infrastructure and promote industrial investments in the city as it had competitive advantage in terms of natural resources, knowledge-based institutes and Visakhapatnam port and a satellite port at Gangavaram.
To a question, he said Visakhapatnam had rich potential to become a tourist spot and suggested development of a Buddhist circuit to attract tourists from within and outside the country on the lines of Bodhgaya.
Inherent strength
He said the district was endowed with abundant raw materials like bauxite, mica, calcite and quartz besides traditional strengths in agriculture, marine industries and tourism.
However, he observed that the inherent strengths of the district had not been tapped properly in view of certain challenges such as inadequate urban infrastructure and connectivity with major cities.
Mr. Swaminathan said Visakhapatnam had clocked a decadal growth rate of 16.7 per cent, which was the third highest in the State.
The district had been growing at 15.9 per cent in terms of District Domestic Product. Keeping the growth factor in mind, the city planners should focus on rapid urban development including housing, transportation, water and sanitation.
He urged the State Government to improve connectivity with other cities and develop Visakhapatnam-Kakinada industrial corridor and hoped that the presence of large public sectors like Visakhapatnam Steel Plant would attract a good supplier base. Outlining CII initiatives for the manufacturing sector, he said CII would moot for specific measures to stimulate manufacturing.
Exclusive manufacturing policies for southern States and setting up of manufacturing competitiveness councils were in the agenda for revival of the sector, he added.
CII city council chairman Mr. K.V. Bhaskar, vice-chairman Mr. Sriram Ravi Chander, southern region regional director Mr. Sujith Haridas and director and head, AP Chapter Mr. S. Kannan were present.
