

Amaravati, Aug 12 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh’s State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) on Wednesday approved investment proposals worth Rs 2,08,406 crore covering 25 projects.
These projects, approved at the 20th meeting of SIPB chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, are expected to create 21,627 direct jobs.
The Chief Minister directed officials to credit industrial incentives into escrow accounts from December. While incentives are essential to promote industries, the government should also focus on determining the extent of incentives that can realistically be provided, the Chief Minister said.
Naidu stressed the need for plans to establish industrial projects in rural areas so that industrialisation contributes to the development of those regions.
The Chief Minister directed officials to focus on attracting investments in emerging sectors such as green ammonia, lithium batteries and robotics, and to study the measures required to encourage industries in these fields.
He also called for creating awareness among the public about industrial projects being established across the State. He said misinformation was being spread by some groups by portraying industries as polluting units and creating misconceptions that could obstruct development.
The Chief Minister said the data centres being established in North Andhra would require only 3.5 TMC of water and directed officials to take steps to dispel misconceptions regarding data centres. He called for continuous monitoring of industrial development in the State and said fake campaigns were being carried out on social media by some political elements.
He stated that abundant water would be supplied to industries in Visakhapatnam through gravity flow from the Polavaram Left Canal. He also directed officials to analyse the value being added to the State’s ecosystem by the industries being established in Andhra Pradesh.
The Chief Minister called for hotels and other hospitality projects coming up in the State to have distinctive architectural designs that would attract tourists visiting Andhra Pradesh.
The Chief Minister said all defence sector projects being established in the State were a matter of pride for the nation. He directed officials to facilitate the establishment of defence projects near Puttaparthi and aerospace projects near Hindupur.
Naidu directed officials to complete the construction of Moolapeta Port by December so that it can be inaugurated that month.
The Chief Minister also called for integrating logistics, modern warehousing and cold-chain projects. Road, rail and port connectivity should be strengthened to ensure that horticultural produce from Rayalaseema reaches international markets, he said.
–IANS
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