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Andhra to start ArcelorMittal Nippon plant after Feb 15

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced that the foundation stone for the proposed ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel plant in Anakapalli district will be laid after February 15, 2026. The announcement came during his participation at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, where he met with ArcelorMittal executives, including Lakshmi N. Mittal, to discuss the project and its progress.

The steel plant is expected to be a major industrial investment, with an estimated outlay of around ₹60,000 crore. It is seen as a key initiative to boost industrial growth, local employment, and infrastructure development in Andhra Pradesh. The project is anticipated to bring significant opportunities for ancillary industries and increase the state’s contribution to the steel sector.

Naidu emphasized that all land acquisition, clearances, and statutory approvals must be completed by February 15 to allow the groundwork to begin without delays. He also assured that the Andhra Pradesh government will extend full support to ensure the plant’s construction and eventual production start smoothly.

The CM’s meetings in Davos highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s ambition to attract global investments beyond the steel sector. He engaged with international business leaders to explore opportunities in tourism, hospitality, and artificial intelligence training for youth, positioning the state as a favorable destination for both industrial and knowledge-based investments.

Officials said the ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel plant is expected to have a multiplier effect on the local economy, providing direct and indirect employment to thousands of people and supporting regional infrastructure projects. The plant’s development aligns with the state government’s strategy to promote large-scale industrialization while fostering innovation and skill development among the youth.

With the foundation stone ceremony scheduled soon, Andhra Pradesh is signaling its commitment to creating a business-friendly environment, completing clearances on time, and collaborating with international investors to accelerate industrial growth. The project is widely regarded as a transformative initiative for the state’s economy and a significant step in attracting global manufacturing investments.

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Beyond

India’s first $10bn green ammonia venture in Andhra

Andhra Pradesh has launched India’s first green ammonia project, marking a significant investment in the country’s clean energy and industrial landscape. The $10‑billion facility, developed by AM Green, is set up near Kakinada Port on a brownfield site formerly used for ammonia‑urea production. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan inaugurated the project, emphasizing its potential to drive economic growth and sustainable industrial development.

At full capacity, the complex will produce 1.5 million tonnes of green ammonia annually, making it the largest facility of its kind in the world. Commissioning is planned in phases: 0.5 million tonnes per year by 2027, scaling to 1 million tonnes in 2028, and reaching full output by 2030.

The facility integrates large-scale renewable energy infrastructure, including 7.5 GW of solar and wind power, 1,950 MW of electrolyser capacity for green hydrogen, and 2 GW of continuous renewable energy supported by pumped hydro storage. These capabilities will make the project not only a clean energy milestone but also a strategic hub for industrial hydrogen-based exports.

The venture is expected to generate up to 8,000 jobs during construction, with additional long-term employment in sectors such as renewable energy operations, logistics, port management, and storage. AM Green has already secured supply agreements with Germany’s Uniper and is exploring partnerships with companies in Japan and Singapore, signaling strong international interest.

The project aligns with Andhra Pradesh’s Integrated Clean Energy Policy, 2024, reinforcing the state’s position as a leader in renewable energy and clean fuel exports. Analysts note that this initiative could significantly boost India’s presence in the global green ammonia market, a sector increasingly critical for shipping, power generation, and as a carrier of green hydrogen.

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AP leads India with 25% of proposed investments

Andhra Pradesh has emerged as India’s leading investment destination in FY26, securing 25.3% of the country’s total proposed investments during the first nine months (April–December 2025), according to a Bank of Baroda report. This positions the state ahead of other top contenders like Odisha (13.1%) and Maharashtra (12.8%).

The report shows that total proposed investment announcements across India reached approximately ₹26.6 lakh crore in this period, marking an 11.5% increase compared with the same period last year. Most of the investment proposals are driven by the private sector, which accounts for nearly 90% of the total, while government-led investments make up the remaining 10%.

A significant surge in announcements came in the October–December 2025 quarter, with proposals worth nearly ₹10 lakh crore, reflecting growing investor confidence. Key sectors attracting investment in Andhra Pradesh include infrastructure, electricity, renewable energy, chemicals, metals, IT, and transport services, which together constitute the bulk of proposed capital expenditure.

State authorities attribute this remarkable performance to investor-friendly policies, fast-track approvals, and ease-of-doing-business measures. Focused development in IT, electronics, manufacturing, logistics, energy, and digital infrastructure has drawn attention from both domestic and international investors.

Together with Odisha and Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh now accounts for more than half of India’s proposed investments, highlighting a trend toward the eastern and southern regions as emerging investment hubs. Officials note that converting proposals into actual projects will be crucial for generating jobs and boosting economic growth.

Experts believe Andhra Pradesh’s ability to maintain policy stability, encourage private participation, and offer a predictable business environment will be key to sustaining this momentum throughout FY26 and beyond.

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Beyond

India’s GST up 6%, Andhra Pradesh records highest

India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections showed moderate growth in December 2025, reflecting steady economic activity despite recent tax rate cuts. Gross GST collections reached around ₹1.74–1.75 lakh crore, a 6.1 per cent increase compared with December 2024. The rise highlights strong compliance and sustained revenue generation across sectors amid structural reforms.

Net GST revenue, after accounting for refunds, rose 2.2 per cent to about ₹1.45 lakh crore. Collections from domestic transactions grew modestly by 1.2 per cent to roughly ₹1.22 lakh crore. GST on imports remained a key driver, surging nearly 20 per cent to around ₹52,000 crore. In contrast, the GST compensation cess, used to support states’ revenues, dropped by over 60 per cent following the removal of several cess items under the GST 2.0 structure.

The September 2025 GST reforms rationalised rates on many goods and services, making essentials more affordable but slightly slowing revenue growth in some categories. Nevertheless, overall collections reflect resilience, aided by sustained economic demand and compliance.

At the state level, Andhra Pradesh recorded its highest-ever December SGST collection of about ₹2,652 crore, up 5.78 per cent from last year. Gross collections reached ₹3,137 crore, positioning the state second among southern states in December and demonstrating robust local economic activity.

The combination of steady national growth and record state collections indicates that India’s indirect tax system continues to perform well, even as the economy adapts to post-reform changes.

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Corporate

Andhra allots 480 acres for Adani–Google AI data centre

The Andhra Pradesh government has approved the allotment of 480 acres of land to Adani Infra (India) Pvt. Ltd. for setting up a major AI and cloud data-centre project linked to Google. The land parcels are spread across Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts and will be used to build a 1-gigawatt (1 GW) data-centre campus, one of the largest of its kind in India.

The project will be developed by Raiden Infotech India Pvt. Ltd., a company associated with Google. It plans to create a high-capacity data-centre ecosystem capable of supporting advanced AI computing, global cloud services and large-scale digital applications. The facility will be built to the same international standards followed by Google’s global data-centre network, ensuring world-class reliability and performance.

According to official estimates, the overall investment connected to the project is expected to be around ₹87,500 crore over multiple phases. The State government is also offering incentives worth roughly ₹22,000 crore, spread over several years, to support the development of the high-energy, high-capacity data-centre cluster.

Once completed, the 1 GW data centre will require enormous power resources. Officials noted that its full-capacity electricity consumption could be equivalent to nearly half of Mumbai’s annual energy use, highlighting the scale and complexity of the infrastructure planned. This will also require significant upgrades to local power supply systems, connectivity, and green-energy options.

The government said the project will be a major boost to Andhra Pradesh’s position as an emerging technology and digital-services hub. Visakhapatnam, already being developed as the Executive Capital of the State, is expected to benefit from related infrastructure development, job creation and new opportunities for technology companies.

Senior officials believe the project will attract further investments in AI, cloud computing, semiconductor research and advanced data-storage solutions. The presence of a global-standard data centre is also expected to support start-ups, research institutions and digital-first companies looking to build products in India.

With this land allotment, Andhra Pradesh hopes to establish Visakhapatnam as one of the leading centres for AI-driven digital infrastructure in the country, strengthening its long-term economic and technology goals.

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Corporate

Andhra Pradesh clears LPS‑II, ₹7,500 cr for Amaravati

The Andhra Pradesh government has given the green light to the second phase of land pooling (LPS‑II) for Amaravati, the state’s capital region. This phase will cover around 16,666 acres spread across seven villages, including Vaikunthapuram, Pedamadduru, Yendrai, Karlapudi, Vadlamanu, Harichandrapuram, and Pedaparimi. The approval is seen as a major step in reviving the long-delayed plans for building Amaravati.

Alongside LPS‑II, the state has secured a ₹7,500 crore loan from the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID). This funding is earmarked for developing essential infrastructure across the capital region. Key projects include construction of roads, drainage systems, water supply networks, sewerage lines, electricity connections, and other civic facilities.

Officials said that with the loan in place, work on infrastructure is expected to start soon. Farmers who had pooled their land will now receive proper layouts and promised amenities, addressing concerns about delays in the capital’s development. The move is also expected to boost investor confidence and accelerate the city’s overall growth.

The Cabinet decision reflects the government’s commitment to transforming Amaravati into a modern, well-planned capital. By combining land pooling with a major financial boost, the administration aims to ensure that the city’s development proceeds systematically, with both farmers’ interests and urban planning goals in focus.

With LPS‑II and the NaBFID loan, Andhra Pradesh is now poised to move ahead on one of its most ambitious infrastructure projects, promising better facilities, faster development, and a clearer roadmap for Amaravati’s future.

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Bengaluru’s Sarla Aviation invests ₹1,300 cr in Andhra’s aerospace facility

Bengaluru-based Sarla Aviation is set to create a futuristic aviation hub in Andhra Pradesh with an investment of ₹1,300 crore. The 500-acre campus in Thimmasamudram, Anantapur district, will focus on producing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, popularly known as flying taxis.

The facility will be more than just a factory. It will house design and engineering labs, pilot training centres, maintenance units, and flight-testing areas, aiming to manufacture up to 1,000 aircraft per year. This is expected to make it one of the world’s largest eVTOL production sites.

Rakesh Gaonkar, Co-founder and CTO of Sarla Aviation, said: “Our goal is for India to design, build, test, fly, and operate advanced eVTOL aircraft from a single integrated campus. This project is a step toward making India a leader in the future of urban air mobility.”

Advanced infrastructure will include a two-kilometre runway, special VTOL testing pads, and India’s largest wind tunnel. The campus will also produce critical components such as powertrains, landing gear systems, flight-control computers, and composite materials.

Sustainability is a key focus. The facility will use renewable energy, recycle water, maintain zero liquid discharge, and implement eco-friendly practices for metal and composite waste. The Andhra Pradesh government is partnering with Sarla Aviation to support infrastructure, research, and certification processes.

By 2029, the campus is expected to support commercial air-taxi services in South India while creating thousands of high-skilled jobs and helping local small businesses join the aviation supply chain.

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Corporate

Reliance announces 1-GW AI data centre in Andhra

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh government to build a 1-gigawatt AI data centre in Visakhapatnam. The agreement was finalised during the CII Partnership Summit 2025, attended by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and senior Reliance leaders.

The upcoming facility will be a modular, high-performance data centre designed to handle next-generation AI workloads. It will support advanced processors such as GPUs, TPUs and specialised AI chips. The company said this centre will act as a “twin” to its gigawatt-scale AI hub in Jamnagar, Gujarat, creating a strong national network for AI computing.

To ensure sustainable power supply, Reliance will also set up a 6 GWp solar power plant in Andhra Pradesh. This will help meet the heavy energy needs of the AI facility while supporting the state’s push for renewable energy.

In addition to the data centre, RIL plans to develop a fully automated greenfield food park in Kurnool, spread across 170 acres. The park will manufacture beverages, packaged water, snacks and various food products. The project is expected to generate thousands of jobs and boost local supply chains.

Reliance said the new investments reflect its commitment to supporting Andhra Pradesh’s economic growth. The company has already invested over $25 billion in the state across its energy, retail and digital businesses.

Chief Minister Naidu welcomed the announcement, saying the projects will help position Andhra Pradesh as a hub for AI innovation, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.

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Corporate

ReNew to invest ₹82,000 cr in Andhra Pradesh

ReNew Energy Global Plc plans to invest ₹82,000 crore across Andhra Pradesh in a wide range of renewable energy projects. The investment includes a 6 GW solar ingot-wafer plant, a 2 GW pumped-hydro project, a 300 ktpa green ammonia facility, and about 5 GW of hybrid solar-wind-storage projects.

The company has already signed four MoUs with the state government for fresh commitments of ₹60,000 crore, in addition to a previous ₹22,000 crore pledge. ReNew’s existing footprint in the state includes around 717 MW of wind and 60 MW of solar power across ten sites.

 CEO Sumant Sinha said the projects will create a fully integrated clean-energy value chain, supporting India’s push for self-reliance in energy and green technologies.

This massive expansion is expected to generate over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs and strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s position as a hub for renewable energy.

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