Sri City turns 15: A success story in the making

Launched by Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy, former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, on August 8, 2008, Sri City has indeed traversed a path to great success in its decade and a half journey.

Noted as one of the coveted business destinations in India, it has been earmarked as a ‘leader’ amongst the industrial parks in India in the Industrial Parks Rating System (IPRS) 2.0, by the Department for the Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India. Sri City has within it a multi product Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a Domestic Tariff Zone (DTZ), a Free Trade & Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) and an Electronics Manufacturing Cluster, ushering in investments of over $4 billion, while exports from the industrial park exceed $1.1 billion. This bustling business city attracts investors from across the globe and is ‘home’ to over 205 companies from 28 nations. It stands as a true manifestation of 'Make in India' campaign in diverse industries, while several of them produce products which substitute imports and significantly multiply exports.

Some of the biggest household names like Cadbury’s (Mondelez), Kellogg’s, Colgate, Isuzu, Foxconn, Daikin, Bluestar, Tata, among many are here, churning out an array of products that range from chocolates to metro coaches and complex cryogenic tanks, from formulations to mobile phones, from garments and Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) to engineering products. Sri City demonstrates and embodies the true essence of a multi-product park.

The adage that one can find everything that comprehends a person’s daily needs and beyond, rings true for this business park, which has defined the symbiotic relationships that exist between various manufacturers. This robust ecosystem further augments the investor attraction potential of Sri City, and its proximity to Chennai, accentuates this ecosystem even more. Poised to produce about 50 per cent of India’s Air Conditioners by the year 2027, Sri City has emerged as the Air Conditioner manufacturing hub of South India, besides also emerging as the home of electronics manufacturing for this part of the country.

Manufacturers in Sri City have set unique records for themselves with achievements that truly boggle the mind, while at the same time reflect the conduciveness of the existing ecosystem. Examples such as the Colgate Palmolive plant manufacturing 2 million toothbrushes a day amounting to 40 per cent of the toothbrushes manufactured in India or that of Mondelez producing 105 bars of chocolates a second in it largest plant in Asia Pacific here, or that of Unicharm producing 260 million diapers a month in their plant in Sri City, indeed boggle the mind.

Sri City is a true example of the ‘Make in India’ vision, which has not only spurred on the manufacturing sector, but has also stimulated the warehousing and logistics industry. The latter, being a crucial part of the supply chain for businesses engaged in manufacturing, importers and exporters, offering valued services of storing inventories and transporting goods to all corners of the globe. The advantageous location of Sri City, with its proximity to all modes of transportation, allows for easy access to all parts of the nation as well as to international destinations. This augurs well for organisations that are in the business of warehousing and logistics.

Sri City is located right next to National Highway-16 and is equidistant from Chennai and Tirupati, both of which are home to international airports and logistics terminals. Four deep water international sea ports - Chennai, Ennore, Kattupalli, and Krishnapatnam are also all within a 100 sq km radius of Sri City. Besides these, a national railhead is just a few kilometres away from the Industrial Park.

Siddaratha Logistics, Nittsu Logistics, Indospace, Coldman, TCI, and MIMCO DFS, are some of the reputed 3PL (third party logistics) organisations that have established their operations in Sri City as the need for world-class logistics and warehouses rises. This has greatly augmented the logistics ecosystem in Sri City with the availability of this crucial service so close to both production and consumption centres. These service providers offer temperature-controlled warehousing and logistic services to a large number of manufacturers, with a strong emphasis on technology-driven operations.

Dr Ravindra Sannareddy, Founder Managing Director, Sri City, speaking on the milestone, says: “Time has indeed flown by. I vividly remember the initial days and the efforts that have gone into making Sri City into what it is today. I thank the many men and women who have tirelessly worked along with me into making Sri City a standout business city. I feel proud to see where we have reached from humble beginnings, but at the same time stay grounded to the fact that we have many more miles to go.”

Sustainability forms one of the key drivers in Sri City’s ethos. Its sustainability initiatives demonstrate a commitment to balance economic development with environmental and social responsibility and serves as a model for other industrial parks. Sri City’s impact on the society around it manifests in the form of education, employment and over all socio-economic development. Its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme aims to comprehensively develop the region focusing on improving vital social parameters like access to quality education, better health services, social infrastructure, livelihood options, etc.

Several socio-economic surveys conducted by various NGOs and educational institutions have highlighted the increase in economic standards by over 200 per cent, directly due to the existence and interventions of Sri City. The business city plays a critical role in promoting economic development in the region and helps in creating a self-sustaining economic ecosystem, the surveys observed.

Calling it as an industrial park would be the wrong nomenclature, as Sri City has been developed on the principles of 'work-live-learn-play', and it stands true to these principles. A robust social infrastructure that offers everything that a person needs to live a healthy and peaceful life has been ensured in the city. From a range of multi-storey housing complexes to meet everyone’s needs to speciality healthcare facilities, a shopping arcade, schools, colleges, a university, restaurants, a resort and even a golf driving range abound in the city.

The value creation that this business city has been able to give to its patrons, exudes embrace. It exudes serenity, peace, sustainability and safety. It exudes life as one would love it. Sri City has taken and woven a perfect weave where sustainable development for economics has allowed a city to thrive where living is a pleasure. The city has been able to extend human values that have percolated deep into the hearts of the people, who not only work here, but also live here.