AMARAVATHI: The Andhra Pradesh government is actively seeking international partnerships to accelerate the growth of port-led infrastructure, aiming to generate significant employment opportunities and achieve its ambitious goal of becoming a $2 trillion economy by 2047. This strategy is part of the state’s broader vision to establish itself as a global maritime hub by 2030, focusing on sustainable economic and coastal development.
During the 29th Economic Development Cooperation Fund conference in Seoul, Andhra Pradesh Infrastructure and Investment Department Secretary S. Suresh Kumar presented the state’s vision. On a five-day tour to South Korea, invited by the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM), Suresh Kumar discussed potential collaborations. His meetings with senior officials from Korea’s shipbuilding industry and representatives from Busan Port Authority, Hanjin Industries, and Hyundai Industries highlighted efforts to establish shipbuilding and repair facilities in Andhra Pradesh.
Suresh Kumar emphasized the state’s commitment to creating world-class infrastructure and attracting both global and domestic investments. By 2030, Andhra Pradesh aims to become a leading industrial hub in India. The state is focusing on sustainable development through strategic policies and efficient governance, with a strong emphasis on the maritime sector.
Andhra Pradesh currently operates one major port in Visakhapatnam and five smaller ports, which together handled 198 million tonnes of cargo in 2023. The state plans to expand its port infrastructure with four new non-major ports—at Ramayapatnam, Machilipatnam, Kakinada (Gateway), and Mulapet—expected to be operational by 2025-26, representing an investment of over Rs 16,000 crore. This expansion will increase the state’s cargo handling capacity by 110 million tonnes and boost job creation, particularly in shipbuilding, repair, and maritime industries.
