Andhra Pradesh Partners with CII to Drive Economic Growth, Forms Consultative Forum

In a strategic move to unlock Andhra Pradesh’s full economic potential, the State government has teamed up with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to establish the GoAP-CII Consultative Forum. This initiative, of immense strategic importance, aims to empower and involve the private sector more directly in shaping the state’s industrial and economic landscape.

Orders for the creation of the Consultative Forum were issued late on Saturday. Nara Lokesh, Minister for Real Time Governance, will lead the forum. The Chief Secretary will serve as Vice President, and the CII AP State Council Chairman will take on the role of member secretary.

Initially constituted for a period of two years, the Consultative Forum is tasked with addressing key concerns related to industry, trade, and investment. This timeline underscores the urgency and commitment to foster an attractive investment climate while accelerating industrial growth, skill and entrepreneurship development, and infrastructure enhancement. This will be achieved through consultations, networking, and building strong linkages between government bodies and the private sector.

The collaboration with CII is expected to widen Andhra Pradesh’s industrial base by focusing on sectors like renewable energy, biotechnology, IT hardware, and high-precision manufacturing. This diversification is intended to reduce the state’s dependency on a limited number of industries, paving the way for more balanced and sustainable economic growth.

During a special plenary session at the 4th CII Southern Regional Council meeting, IT Minister Lokesh emphasized Andhra Pradesh’s ambition to rank among India's top three industrialized states, with crucial progress targeted in IT, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and MSMEs.

Additionally, plans are underway to form a joint consultative forum between the State’s Economic Development Board and CII to ensure continued collaboration in achieving these objectives.