AP turns rendezvous for investors

Vijayawada: Stating that Andhra Pradesh due to proactive measures is in the driver's seat in industrialisation and employment, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday said the State had not only achieved a robust growth rate of 11.74 per cent but also secured number one slot in Ease of Doing Business (EoDB). He also hinted at encouraging response by many to set up big ticket projects.

Hitting out at his political bete noire and leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu during a short discussion on industrialisation and investments in the Assembly, said all this has not been tolerated by Chandrababu Naidu and his friendly media which is making an attempt to tarnish the image of the YSRCP by spreading falsehood and concocted stories.

The State has been doing well in EoDB, even in the changed pattern with all the marks being given only by industrialists and the growth rate logging 11.43 per cent, he stated, adding the investments started coming in as the State could give confidence and assure transparency which is why the captains of industry like Tatas, Birlas, Adanis and other big ticket companies started looking towards Andhra Pradesh and are coming to invest in the State, he said. In the past three years, 99 industries have gone to steam in the State with an investment of Rs 46,280 crore providing jobs to 62,541 and about 40,000 more jobs will be generated through four Central government PSUs coming up soon. Discussions for setting up of 10 major industries are underway while four CPSUs like HPCL, ONGC and BEL have come forward with investment proposals.

The Chief Minister said that the investments into the State have been growing, much more than the previous government, and Andhra Pradesh has competed with as many as 17 States to get the Bulk Drugs Park at Kakinada. The project will provide jobs to around 35,000.

"While we could get the Rs1,000 crore project from the government of India because of our good work and initiatives, TDP tried to play spoilsport by writing letters to the Centre to stall the project though we have taken all precautionary measures for effluent treatment."

Telangana and Maharashtra have been complaining to the Centre as they could not get the project while Chandrababu Naidu and his men have been trying to put spokes in it to disgrace the State through false propaganda, he alleged.

This apart the State government has promoted MSMEs by giving incentives as this sector alone provides 12 lakh jobs. "We have also cleared the dues of the TDP government," he said. The government is also encouraging major industries through incentives and giving priority to self-help groups under various schemes.

The YSR Electronic Manufacturing Cluster, Mega Industrial Hub coming at Kopparthi and the Steel Plant at Jammalamadugu in YSR Kadapa district, among others, will provide jobs to locals and increase the standard of living and the State is getting the youth job-ready through skill development, he said.

The investments that had come in the State during three years is more than that of the investments that have come during the five year term of Chandrababu Naidu, he said amid thumping of desks by the treasury benches, adding that the State is getting three industrial corridors, for the first time in the country.

He also gave data on the employment generation during the past three years which aggregates to 6.13 lakh jobs in three while it was just 34,108 during the previous government.

While such a development is taking place in the State, Chandrababu and his friendly media is getting a heart burn and have been resorting to false propaganda to undermine our efforts and the image of the State. But the stark difference is in the open for everyone to see, he said.

The State has been doing well in EoDB. The investments started to come in as the State could give confidence and assure transparency which is why the captains of industry like Tatas, Birlas, Adanis started looking towards AP and are coming to invest in the State

– Jagan Mohan Reddy, Chief Minister, AP