Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, chaired a high-level review meeting at the Tobacco Board in Guntur to assess the progress of NICDC-led industrial nodes in Andhra Pradesh under three key industrial corridors. The meeting marked a significant step in accelerating industrial development across the state.
The review focused on the development of three strategic industrial nodes — Krishnapatnam under the Chennai–Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC), Orvakal under the Hyderabad–Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (HBIC), and Kopparthy under the Visakhapatnam–Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC).
Minister directed officials to prioritize the attraction of anchor investors and foster innovation-driven ecosystems within each node. Emphasizing the role of startups in driving economic transformation, the Minister called for the establishment of dedicated incubators and earmarked zones for startups and MSMEs. These zones, he noted, should offer subsidized rates, modern infrastructure, and advanced technological support.
Underscoring the importance of global collaboration, he suggested organizing country-specific investment conclaves to draw targeted foreign investments. He also advocated for a centralized dashboard to enable real-time monitoring of project progress and urged the adoption of stringent quality control mechanisms to ensure global-standard infrastructure.
Reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to making Andhra Pradesh a hub of innovation and industry, the Minister said the state is on course to become ‘Swarnandhra Pradesh’ — a shining example of inclusive and sustainable industrial growth.
The review meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including Member of Parliament (Guntur) Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani; Minister of State for Rural Development & Communications, Shri T.G. Bharath; Andhra Pradesh Industries Minister Dr. N. Yuvaraj; Secretary of Industries, Shri Rajat Kumar Saini; NICDC CEO & MD, Shri Abhishikth Kishore; and senior officials from NICDC, APICDC, and APIIC.
The session commenced with presentations by the Vice Chairman & Managing Director of APIIC on the three NICDC industrial nodes, followed by an overview of the state’s “Swarna Andhra 2047” industrial roadmap presented by the Secretary of Industries.
Speaking at the meeting, NICDC CEO & MD Shri Rajat Kumar Saini highlighted the need to fast-track land acquisition, ensure timely development of external infrastructure by the state government, and maintain quality benchmarks throughout implementation.
Andhra Pradesh: Industrial Growth Across Three Major Corridors
Andhra Pradesh stands out as the only state hosting industrial nodes under three different national industrial corridors. These projects are poised to transform the state into a manufacturing powerhouse with significant investment potential and employment generation:
- Krishnapatnam Node (CBIC): Spread across 2,006 acres, it is expected to attract investments worth ₹10,500 crore and generate employment for 1 lakh people.
- Orvakal Node (HBIC): Covering 2,621 acres, the node is projected to bring in ₹12,000 crore in investments and create 45,000 jobs.
- Kopparthy Node (VCIC): With 2,596 acres of development area, the node anticipates investment of ₹8,800 crore and job creation for 54,000 individuals.
