Armed with a new industrial policy for 2015-2020, and sector-specific policies for automotives and textiles, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today made an aggressive pitch for new industries in the State.

Interacting with industrialists from more than 25 countries at the Sri City complex here, Naidu said that the policy framework is aimed at simplifying the procedures and providing faster clearances with a deemed clearance clause if permissions are not given within the stipulated timeframe.

During the meeting with industrialists, Naidu said that the Chennai, Tirupati and Nellore region would be transformed into a major industrial hub packed with two ports at Krishnapatnam, airports at Tirupati and Nellore and highspeed connectivity to these cities.

Deputing an officer of the rank of Industrial Commisioner, Naidu said he would serve as a single window interface for new investors, providing all necessary support.

The Chief Minister said that within 10 months of assuming office, the Andhra Pradesh Government has cleared Rs 2,100 crore towards various industrial subsidies in spite of tough financial position the State was passing through with the objective of boosting investments. This amount is almost twice that was offered during 2004 to 2014 wherein about Rs 1,200 core was offered to industrial subsidies.

Mentioning about sector-specific policies such as the one on automotive sector, he said that a number of initiatives have been provided to make them attractive for investments for the automotive companies and various other ancillaries.

Responding to Isuzu executive Wakabayashi and his request to provide a single window clearance, Naidu said that the industry commissioner and his team would serve as an interface and also agreed to a suggestion to empower industrial zones to extend some clearances.

To an another query from a representative of the US-based enterprise Kelloggs, Naidu said that necessary changes would be brought about to encourage three shifts for women workers. The issue came up as a Kelloggs executive said that they were willing to hire up to 30 per cent of staff from women folk and that the permission to run three shifts was vital.

During his near day-long visit to Sri City SEZ, Naidu inaugurated nine new manufacturing units, including that of PepsiCo, HunterDouglas, Artura, ZTT, West Pharma.

Earlier, he took part in the ground breaking ceremony of 11 new manufacturing plants, which include Rexam, Godawari Udyog, Ayurvet India, Vermeiren, and BeRolleX.

So far, more than Rs 25,000 crore have been invested by various companies in the Sri City project.

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