Lokesh invites investments in agriculture, metals and renewable energy sectors

Vijayawada: Setting focus on attracting big-ticket investments across agriculture value chains, manufacturing, metals and renewable energy sectors, IT and HRD minister Nara Lokesh held discussions with leading industry representatives in Kolkata and urged them to establish projects in the state.Lokesh met ITC chairman and managing director Sanjiv Puri and highlighted the investment potential in Andhra Pradesh’s hospitality, agriculture and industrial sectors. He said several national and international companies have shown interest in investing in the state, with around 220 companies signing agreements for projects in Visakhapatnam.Lokesh invited ITC to invest in crop value chain clusters in the state and collaborate in areas such as climate-resilient crop development, agri-forestry and model village development.

He said the state offers significant opportunities in food processing and value addition. Sanjiv Puri said ITC already operates spice processing units, green leaf tobacco processing plants in Guntur, agri-business centres, notebook manufacturing facilities at Gollapudi, IT solutions and hotels in Andhra Pradesh.

He added that ITC is developing 361 villages as model villages through CSR initiatives and has established RO water plants in remote areas.

He assured that the company would examine the state govt’s proposals.Lokesh invited Shyam Metalics, Super Smelters and Rashmi Metalics to invest in aluminium and steel manufacturing sectors. He explained that the state has major infrastructure advantages with ports at Krishnapatnam, Gangavaram and Visakhapatnam, besides industrial corridors like Sri City, Krishnapatnam Node and Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor.

The minister requested Shyam Metalics to set up an EV-grade aluminium manufacturing facility, including aluminium foil and flat-rolled product units, in Andhra Pradesh.He urged Super Smelters to expand its Vizianagaram steel plant capacity to 2 MTPA and support downstream industries such as TMT fabrication units, steel service centres and pipe manufacturing clusters. Lokesh also requested Rashmi Metalics to establish an integrated steel and ductile iron pipe manufacturing facility near the VCIC region, stating that it would strengthen the steel ecosystem and boost exports.In his meeting with Vikram Solar chairman and MD Gyanesh Chaudhary and CEO Arun Mittal, Lokesh urged the company to establish an integrated solar hub in Rayalaseema. He said AP aims to become a global green energy hub with a target of 78.5 GW renewable energy capacity in five years, attracting nearly Rs 10 lakh crore investments and creating 7.5 lakh jobs. He appealed Vikram Solar to utilise state govt incentives and expand its PowerHive storage operations along with setting up an integrated solar hub in Andhra Pradesh.