Andhra Pradesh: Vizag all set to become a pharma hub, says Industries Minister

‘The U.K. has evinced interest in investing in the sector’

The Andhra Pradesh government is putting in efforts to develop the industrial sector, which endured the slowdown during the coronavirus pandemic, with renewed vigour, IT and Industries Minister Gudivada Amarnath has said.

In an exclusive chat with The Hindu, the Minister said that a special focus was being laid on pharmaceutical, port-based development and green energy sectors.

“Efforts are on to make Visakhapatnam a pharmaceutical hub in the country in the next few years. We already have two pharma SEZs and Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone spread across Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts. We are among the leading producers of bulk drugs now,” said Mr. Amarnath.

He said that the U.K. government had evinced interest in investing in pharma sector in a big way because of the eco-system and the port-based facility in Visakhapatnam.

Asked about the safe disposal of industrial effluent, he said, “The water released from the industries will be allowed to flow into the sea only after treatment in strict adherence to the norms.”

Mr. Amarnath said that Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had laid emphasis on port-based development. “Andhra Pradesh has a coastline of about 975 km, the second largest in the country. We are working on a model to have some port-based activity in every 50 km along the coast. The government is planning to have the coast dotted with 10 ports, including the existing four, and nine fishing harbours,” he said.

“We will invest about ₹12,000 crore in three major ports of Bhavanapadu, Ramayapatnam and Machilipatnam. Plans are afoot to invest around ₹3,000 crore in nine fishing harbours. The construction works for four harbours have begun, the rest are in the LOI (Letter of Intent) stage,” said Mr. Amamranath.