Aware of the massive task ahead in building Navya Andhra Pradesh, the government in its new industrial development policy 2015-20 wants to create an investor-friendly environment to ensure sustainable and inclusive industrial growth.
Besides introducing single desk clearance, it promises to set up an international desk to attract FDI. The international desks will provide bespoke investor facilitation, handholding services in the form of local information and expertise besides a portal focusing on business opportunity related information.
The policy targets to increase contribution of manufacturing to GSDP from 9.95 per cent in 2013-14 to 15 per cent by 2020 and raise industries’ contribution to GSDP from 20.7 per cent in 2013-14 to 25 per cent in next five years.
Unveiling the policy in Visakhapatnam recently, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said AP would be made a most preferred logistics hub and India’s gateway to East and Southeast Asia by 2029. The policy aims to bring an investment of Rs. 2 lakh crore and create jobs to 10 lakh by 2020.
The government has identified 10 thrust areas, which include agro and food processing, aerospace and defence, mineral-based industry, life sciences, leather, textile and apparel, electronics and IT, energy and petroleum and chemicals.
The policy earmarks various areas for development in product specific hubs. These include pharma hub in Srikakulam, Guntur and Visakhapatnam, electronic clusters in Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and Chittoor, food processing parks in all districts, integrated textiles in Visakhapatnam, Guntur, Krishna, Anantapur and Kurnool, petrochemical complex in Krishna, East Godavari and Visakhapatnam, automobile hub in Nellore and Chittoor, smart industrial townships in all districts, cement plants in Guntur, Anantapur, Kurnool and Kadapa and aerospace and defence in Visakhapatnam, Chittoor and Anantapur.
The government has already identified a land bank of three lakh acres and is in the process of including more areas so as to create a land bank of 10 lakh acres. Consolidation of industrial land will be done as per land pooling/acquisition policy. Allotment will be made on 99-year lease. State Industrial Promotion Board is empowered to consider outright sale for projects with an investment of over Rs.100 crore in backward areas with some conditions.
“To promote ease of doing business, the policy with 24x7 power and water supply will change the investment landscape. Single window clearance, deemed approval on the basis of self-assessment and simplification of procedures will definitely instil lot of confidence among investors,” CII Vizag zone chairman Neeraj Sarda told The Hindu .
(Reporting by
Santosh Patnaik)
