Andhra Pradesh Inked 5 MoUs worth Rs 5,000 crores at Dubai Expo

The week-long Dubai Expo, which ended on February 17, produced positive results for Andhra Pradesh's industrial sector. The state signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with five major companies, including Regency Group (for hyper retail markets and food processing unit), Mulk Holdings (aluminium coil & panel manufacturing), Sharaf Group (integrated Logistics park), Tabreed (sustainable cooling infrastructure), and Causis e-mobility Pvt Ltd (e-buses), with the goal of attracting Rs 5,150 crore in investments and creating 3,440 direct and 7,800 indirect jobs.

"I believe these MoUs will give other firms confidence to invest in the State," said Industries Minister Mekapati Gowtham Reddy. The recent EoDB rankings and upcoming industrial infrastructure initiatives led by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy have attracted investors from around the world. “We believe in long-term industrial transformation that protects the environment and allows communities to share the long-term benefits of industrialization through local employment, improved connectivity, and higher living standards."

A high-level State delegation led by the minister initiated a number of investment roadshows with business houses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The minister spoke to over 400 business professionals from various industries, emphasizing the enormous opportunities in the state for investments and collaborations in agriculture and food sectors, infrastructure (ports, airports, logistics, industrial parks, construction, renewable energy), manufacturing (pharmaceuticals, food processing, petrochemicals, IT & electronics, textiles, electric mobility), and exports.

The delegation held advanced-level discussions with major firms to finalize their investment interests in sectors such as gypsum board building materials (Rs 600 crore and 300 jobs), automotive and batteries (Rs 105 crore and 300 jobs), food processing (Rs 150 crore and 300 jobs), consumer and industrial packaging unit (Rs 100 crore and 200 jobs), and prefabricated structure development (Rs 250 crore and employment of 200).

The establishment of tertiary multi-specialty hospitals as part of the health hubs, as well as innovation-shared services focused on delivering digital solutions across healthcare, cloud governance, utilities, education, and industrial automation using AI and ML technologies, were also discussed. It resulted in a potential investment interest of over Rs 10,350 crore and employment of 5,740 directly and 10,000 indirectly across emerging sectors within the India-UAE strategic trade and commerce partnership.

Over 70 investable projects in 11 focus areas of industrial parks and infrastructure, including a 3 MTPA YSR Kadapa Steel plant, renewable energy, ports, airports, and logistics parks, agriculture and marine processing clusters, health hubs in all 13 districts and 10,000 health clinics in a hub and spoke model, and the state's petrochemical investment region were promoted before various investment and financial institutions, with a potential investment size of $36.7 billion.

The Andhra Pradesh pavilion at the Dubai Expo attracted 7,000-10,000 visitors per day who came to experience the state's rich tradition as well as initiatives taken by the state government in 'Transforming Governance Paradigm,' 'Investing in Future,' measures driving 'Equitable Economic Growth,' and integrating 'Environment & Social Governance' towards sustainable development.