AP plans retail parks in each district, policy to attract investment of Rs.5,000 crore, create 50K jobs by 2026

Vijayawada/Visakhapatnam In a first of its kind, Andhra Pradesh Government has unveiled Retail Parks Policy, which envisages attracting an investment of Rs.5,000 crore with a potential to generate 50,000 direct jobs by 2026.

"The policy which came into force at a critical phase, provides a new hope to retail investors with huge potential for employment to the locals," K.V.S. Prakash, Rao, State president of AP Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation, told Bizz Buzz on Friday.

Under the policy, entrepreneurs will be offered a slew of incentives to foray into retail trade. Each district will have a retail park in textiles, pharmaceuticals, plastics, electricals and other fields. In an order issued on Wednesday, Special Chief Secretary R. Karikal Valaven stated that a nodal officer would be available at each District Industries Centre to facilitate clearances and investments. The government will provide infrastructure assistance to entrepreneurs who invest Rs. 100 crore and provide 5,000 jobs.

The policy for 2021-26 says AP has huge potential to become one of the leading destinations for retail trade. The State is a leader in agriculture, horticulture, dairy/poultry production and other raw materials, ranking amongst the top States across many sectors. The State is also providing significant thrust to sectors such as food processing, electronics, textiles & pharmaceuticals, and is poised to emerge as a key sourcing hub for many segments of the retail trade.

The Retail Parks Policy aims to catalyse growth and provide thrust to the development of the retail sector. Valaven in GO Ms. No. 60 stated that the policy will boost organised retail trade within the State thereby increasing the GSDP, encourage skill development, and create more job opportunities for all sections of society involved in retail trade and strengthen existing unorganised retail sector.

The policy promises measures towards Ease of Doing Business and a single desk portal for online clearances. The retail park

developers and retail enterprises set up within these parks, as part of Ease of Doing Business, will be provided a nodal officer at each DIC and provide hand-holding services. The GO says the government will create a customised facility on Single Desk Portal so that retail park developers and retail enterprises within these parks can obtain all clearances online in a time-bound manner.

All labour regulation-related approvals are issued online on the spot. Other clearances, as applicable to retail such as packers license (Legal Metrology), tree-felling permission, pesticide/insecticide licence, mandatory approvals such as AP Shops Establishments registration & trade licence in urban areas will be given online in a time-bound manner.

Essential renewals for retail pertaining to labour regulations, Drug Retail (Pharmacy) & ULB Trade Licence will have the option for online auto-renewals. Registration/licence is extended for a period as per relevant Act. There is no need to go through a renewal

process, the policy promises.