From Our Correspondent
Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to ensure that all MoUs signed at the recent CII Partnership Summit move from approvals to on-ground execution within 45 days. Chairing the 13th State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) meeting at the Secretariat, the Chief Minister announced that more than 50% of the summit MoUs have already reached the approval stage—an outcome he described as a testament to the state’s renewed “speed of doing business.”
The SIPB cleared ₹20,444 crore in new investments with the potential to create 56,000+ jobs.
‘Summit to Implementation in 20 Days’
The Chief Minister noted that within just 20 days of the Vizag Partnership Summit, projects worth ₹7.69 crore have already begun implementation. Land identification and allotment are underway, and he instructed officials to expedite registration of remaining MoUs and ensure foundation stones for all projects are laid within 45 days.
Naidu set ambitious targets:
- Foundation stones for 75 MSME parks must be laid before the World Economic Forum in Davos.
- Weekly MoU grounding reviews must be conducted by the Chief Secretary.
- A comprehensive monitoring mechanism involving the CM, Cabinet sub-committee, CS, ministers, and senior officials will oversee implementation.
- Land acquisition must be smooth and mutually agreeable.
Building a Knowledge Economy
Naidu stressed that Andhra Pradesh must transition to a knowledge-driven economy. He announced plans to establish a Logistics University, Civil Aviation University, and Green Energy University.
An advisory body for Quantum Valley will oversee mentoring, monitoring, and venture capital. The Ratan Tata Innovation Hub will mentor startups. The CM proposed allocating Quantum Valley’s six towers in a structured manner—two for quantum algorithms, two for AI, and two for emerging technologies. AI training will begin from Class 7, with support from Microsoft and Google.
The Chief Minister also directed departments to adopt advanced technology and enhance skill development so that the youth can meet industry needs. Innovation, he said, must translate into benefits that reach every household.
Tourism, Hospitality, and Infrastructure Push
Naidu instructed officials to promote tourism aggressively. Fifty acres in Kapuluppada, Visakhapatnam, have been earmarked for hotels and convention centres, with a master plan underway. Incentives will be tailored to project scale, and disbursal will follow an escrow-based mechanism.
Sovereign Fund and Agriculture Sector Strengthening
The Chief Minister ordered the creation of a ₹500 crore sovereign fund for the state, similar to global investment models. The livestock sector will be scaled up to ₹8 lakh crore, and guidelines will support this expansion. Nine districts will be developed as horticulture hubs. Connectivity—rail, road, air, and water—must be upgraded to boost horticulture exports.
Lokesh: Approvals Only After Due Diligence
Speaking at the SIPB meeting, Minister Nara Lokesh said approvals must be granted only after thorough due diligence of each company. He emphasised strict adherence to the Speed of Doing Business framework to ensure that projects face no bureaucratic delays.
Ministers TG Bharat, P. Narayana, Kandula Durgesh, Gottipati Ravikumar, and Angani Satya Prasad attended the meeting, while others joined virtually. Chief Secretary Vijayanand and senior officials were present.