Jagan launches Vanijya Utsav 2021 to boost trade, exports in state

Claiming that the state will give full support to industries, Jagan said the government was at the forefront of trade development and infrastructure creation in spite of facing overwhelming challenges in the past two years and had achieved a growth of 19.43 per cent in exports. AP witnessed consistent improvement in exports and went from ranking 9th in the country in 2018-19 in terms of exports to 7th in 2019-20 and 4th in 2020-21. The state has increased its share from $14.1 billion to $16.8 billion, Jagan said, adding that the state government is aiming to double this contribution by 2030 which is currently at 5.8 per cent.

Recalling the decline in GSDP across the country from 6.3 per cent in 2018-19 to -7.3 per cent in 2020-21, the Chief Minister said that the state suffered GSDP contraction of only 2.58 per cent in 2020-21. He said that in the last two years, 16,311 MSMEs have been established in the state by investing Rs. 5,204 crore and creating employment for over 1.37 lakh people. Also, 68 large mega industries were facilitated to start operations with Rs. 30,175 crore by employing around 46,119 people.

Similarly, 62 large and mega industries are also being set up at an investment of Rs. 36,384 crore and creating employment for 76,916 people, Jagan said. He said that in the last year alone, 10 mega projects have been approved which will invest Rs. 26,391 crore and create employment for 55,024 people.

Further, Jagan asserted that Andhra Pradesh is the only state to come up with three industrial corridors - Visakhapatnam-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, and Hyderabad-Bengaluru - for accelerated industrial development. He said the government is also establishing YSR Jagananna Mega Industrial Hub, Kopparthy, spread over 3,155 acres, to attract investments of Rs. 25,000 crores and create employment for one lakh youth. In Kopparthy, YSR Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) is also being set up in 801 acres with an investment of Rs. 730.50 crores to attract Rs. 10,000 crores investment and 25,000 jobs. Also, to boost exports, the government is setting up 25 secondary food processing units, which provide direct employment to 30,000 people and indirect employment to 50,000 people.

Besides these, the government is also bringing a steel plant at a cost of Rs. 13,500 crore with an annual production of three million tonnes and establishing a gas distribution network by partnering with GAIL to make available gas at cheaper rates, Jagan added. To reduce the skill gap, the government is establishing 25 world-class skill colleges, one in each parliamentary constituency, and two Skill Universities in Tirupati and Visakhapatnam, he said.

The Chief Minister also released the State Exports Action Plan 2021 and launched an e-portal specifically for exports.