Andhra Pradesh Government Establishes CII Consultative Forum

The state government has decided to engage the private sector more actively to unlock Andhra Pradesh’s full economic potential. In collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), it has established the Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) CII Consultative Forum. Orders constituting the forum were issued late Saturday night, with Minister for Real-Time Governance Nara Lokesh appointed as its head. The Chief Secretary will serve as the Vice-President, while the Chairman of the CII AP State Council will act as the Member Secretary.

Initially set for a two-year term, the forum is tasked with addressing various industry, trade, and investment concerns. Its goal is to promote a favourable investment climate, stimulate industrial growth, support skill and entrepreneurship development, and enhance infrastructure through consultation, networking, and collaboration among government and industry stakeholders. This partnership with CII aims to diversify the state's industrial base by promoting sectors such as renewable energy, IT hardware, biotechnology, and high-precision manufacturing, reducing reliance on a limited number of industries and fostering broader economic growth.

During a special plenary session at the 4th CII Southern Regional Council meeting, IT Minister Lokesh emphasised the Government of AP's ambition to rank among the top three industrialised states in the country, aiming for significant advancements in IT, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and the MSME sectors. A joint consultative forum between the State government (AP Economic Development Board) and CII was proposed to facilitate these objectives.