In the post ‘Partnership Summit-2016 and 2017, the district is looking up for a change with huge investments in mega food parks, ferro alloys, cashew, fish, and wheat processing units and Ayurvedic products.
With huge investments in pipeline, opportunities in these units for locals are likely to improve. During the last three years i.e. 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17, the number of units, including major ones, established with an investment of ₹379.57 crore was 2,135, which employed 14,357 people, according to M. Udya Bhaskar, General Manager of District Industries Centre.
Cashew processing unit that was established by investing ₹65 crore by M/s Olam Agro India Private Limited at Marupalli in Gajapathinagaram mandal has commenced production and is providing employment to 1,000 locals. Likewise, MOR Alloys (with an investment of ₹24.5 cr), Veda Bio-fuel (₹120.09 cr), Arora Venkatateswara Ferro Alloys (₹35 crore), Anand Subbaraya Wire Products (₹17.9 cr), and Siri Smelters and Energy (₹17.14 cr) have started production thus providing employment to about 600 people.
Those apart, M/s Danica Aqua Exports, Talli Suvarna Food Products, North East Impex, and Vizianagaram Wheat Products, which had signed MoU at Partnership Summit in January this year, will soon commence production. The units together will employ 1,500 people.
In the next six months, Mr. Uday Bhaskar told The Hindu that 10 more units like fruit processing, cocoa chocolates, bakery and confectionery with an investment of ₹1 crore to ₹50 crore would begin production.
He said that M/s Patanjali Ayurvedic Ltd would be investing ₹800 crore for manufacturing Ayurvedic medicines.
The unit will provide employment to 4,000 people. APIIC would be handing over 172.84 acres of land at Chinaraopalli in Kothavalasa mandal to Patanjali Group shortly. While M/s Simhadri Pellets India limited is investing ₹339.70 crore to manufacture iron pellets at Sreerampuram in L. Kota mandal, Maa Mahamaya Industries Limited is in an expansion mode by investing ₹80 crore.
MSME parks
Mr. Uday Bhaskar said that land for developing MSME parks in each Assembly constituency had been identified. At Baligattam in S. Kota constituency 70.41 acres, Marupalli in Gajapathinagaram 100 acres and Kandivalasa in Nellimarla constituency 102.8 acres were developed.
The remaining parks are at Aarikathota (49.13 acres) in Bobbili cosntituency, Baguvalasa (64.3 acres) in Cheepurupalli, Chandalangi (55.36 acres) in Parvathipuram, and Gunkalam (127.7 acres) in Vizianagaram, Saluru (70 acres) in Salur constituency. APIIC has rejected 96.29 acres of land identified at Tekharikandi in Kurupam (ST) constituency declaring that it is not fit for developing an MSME park.
