Union Minister Piyush Goyal pushes for startup revolution in Andhra Pradesh, eyes global capital for industrial hubs

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has called for a startup-friendly overhaul of Andhra Pradesh’s key industrial nodes, urging officials from the state to fast-track several developmental projects that are in the offing and take steps to attract global capital into the state.

Goyal, who chaired a high-level review meeting on June 15 at the Tobacco Board in Guntur, assessed the progress of three industrial nodes in the state: Krishnapatnam, Orvakal, and Kopparthy. These three industrial nodes are being developed under the aegis of the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC), a government-backed body that is tasked with developing next-generation manufacturing hubs across India.

In the meeting, Goyal directed authorities to create innovation-ready zones within each node, earmarking land for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and early-stage companies at subsidised rates.

“The Minister also instructed officials to earmark zones within each node for MSMEs and startups, offering subsidized rates and equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and technological support,” the statement from the ministry said.

The statement noted that Goyal urged the officers to organise country-specific investment conclaves which can help in attracting and enhancing foreign investments into the state.

“He further called for the creation of a centralized dashboard to enable real-time monitoring of project progress and urged the adoption of advanced testing and quality control mechanisms to ensure world-class infrastructure,” the ministry statement added.

The Krishnapatnam node—spread over 2,006 acres under the Chennai–Bengaluru Industrial Corridor—is expected to attract investments worth ₹10,500 crore and generate around 100,000 jobs. Orvakal, under the Hyderabad–Bengaluru Industrial Corridor, has a planned investment of ₹12,000 crore, while the Kopparthy node under the Visakhapatnam–Chennai corridor aims to draw ₹8,800 crore.

NICDC Managing Director Abhishikth Kishore and CEO Rajat Kumar Saini highlighted the importance of expediting land acquisition and infrastructure readiness to meet investment timelines. Saini also underlined the need for rigorous quality control to ensure global standards.

Andhra Pradesh is the only Indian state with nodes under three separate industrial corridors, positioning it as a strategic centrepiece in India’s industrialisation plan. The state's vision, encapsulated in the “Swarna Andhra 2047” roadmap, aims to marry robust infrastructure with sustainable development to foster long-term economic growth.

Goyal, in the meeting, said that Andhra Pradesh is poised to become “Swarnandhra Pradesh”—a symbol of inclusive, innovation-led growth—signalling a renewed emphasis on regional industrial acceleration to power India’s broader economic ambitions.