Andhra Pradesh Tops Ease of Doing Business Rankings, Attracts Rs 9 Lakh Crore Investments
Andhra Pradesh has emerged as India’s leader in ease of doing business. This, District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad said on Monday at an outreach workshop, is due to consistent policy reforms and investor-friendly initiatives.
Between 2024 and 2029, the state introduced over 20 policies for sectors such as tourism, textiles, and MSMEs. “These initiatives reflect our commitment to reform and growth,” Mr. Prasad said. He added that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has focused on fast project approvals, quick land allocations, and incentives for projects reaching commercial production within 12 to 18 months.
The workshop highlighted the simplification of approvals through the Single Desk Portal. “We have introduced multiple reforms to reduce delays for both new and existing businesses,” Mr. Prasad said. Deemed approvals will now be reviewed by the District Level Bankers Committee for proper recognition.
In the past year, Andhra Pradesh attracted about Rs 9 lakh crore in investments. These projects are expected to create nearly eight lakh jobs. In Visakhapatnam, IT firms such as TCS, Cognizant, and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel (AMNS) will generate thousands of white-collar jobs, along with blue- and brown-collar positions.
Industrial growth is rising in Anakapalle, with projects including the NTPC Green Energy Plant inaugurated by the Prime Minister. Mr. Prasad said several projects worth around ₹30,000 crore are in the pipeline, including a new steel plant with a captive port by AMNS. Gender equality reforms now allow women to work 24-hour shifts if proper security is in place.
Additional Director Ramalinga Raju emphasized the state’s long-term business facilitation efforts. “We were the first state in India to launch a single-window system in 2002, later upgraded to the Single Desk System in 2015,” he said. To date, 123 licenses have been issued across 23 departments, and 435 reforms implemented under the 2024-25 Business Reforms Action Plan.
The workshop was attended by industry and government representatives, including Visakhapatnam GM Industries Adiseshulu, Anakapalli GM Industries BKP Prasad, VASSIWA President Panduranga Prasad, and officials from eight districts.