CM Chandrababu Announces Logistics and Aviation Universities in Andhra Pradesh
Visakhapatnam: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced that Andhra Pradesh will soon be developed as the gateway of the East Coast with the establishment of a world-class logistics hub to meet global standards. He said the state will set up a logistics university and a civil aviation university to strengthen the sector further.
The Chief Minister urged experts from port-led shipping industries to form a 20-member advisory body to provide suggestions to the state government for developing Andhra Pradesh into a global logistics hub.
Speaking as chief guest at the East Coast and Logistics Summit jointly organised by the Global Forum for Sustainable Transformation (GFST) and Maritime Gateway, N. Chandrababu Naidu said the logistics sector plays a key role in boosting the economy and creating employment. He noted that the sector’s contribution to the Gross State Domestic Product currently stands at one percent and emphasised the need to raise it to three percent.
Highlighting the state’s advantages, he said Andhra Pradesh is ideally placed for port cargo exports, with six operational ports and four more under development. He stated that the government is committed to establishing ports or fishing harbours every 50 kilometres along the state’s 1,050-kilometre coastline. Andhra Pradesh currently ranks second in sea cargo transport, with neighbouring states including Telangana, Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and parts of Karnataka depending on its ports.
The Chief Minister announced plans to develop shipbuilding, container repair, and ship recycling units at Dugarajupatnam, Machilipatnam, and other ports, including facilities for the maintenance of defence vessels. He stressed the importance of creating digital logistics platforms, cargo tracking systems, and enhancing rail, road, and air connectivity to all major ports.
“The future is for logistics, and we need to implement next-generation reforms to meet the demands of both local and global markets,” N. Chandrababu Naidu said. Citing Dubai and Singapore as examples, he underlined the need to connect ports with industrial units to reduce logistics costs. He pointed out that logistics costs in India stand at 13 percent compared to 8 percent in other countries and called for measures to reduce this gap.
He also said the government is planning to develop inland water transport to cut logistics costs. Referring to the Buckingham Canal, which was historically used for transport between Kakinada and Chennai, he stressed the importance of reviving inland waterways.
Responding to suggestions from shipping industry CEOs, he said the state government would hold discussions with the Government of India to address key issues. He added that Andhra Pradesh is the only state providing water security and is working on interlinking rivers.
N. Chandrababu Naidu also said Visakhapatnam, which he described as the safest place for women in India, will soon emerge as a major technology hub with the establishment of a data centre. He highlighted the government’s priority on skill development to meet future industrial requirements.
Earlier, the Chief Minister participated in a roundtable conference with CEOs of the shipping and logistics industries. He also released two books and launched the Air Cargo Forum of India Andhra Pradesh Chapter.
Ministers B.C. Janardhana Reddy, Dola Balaveeranjaneya Swamy, and Kondapalli Srinivas, GFST Vice Chairman and Director S.P. Tucker, and other officials were present. Ramprasad Ravi of Maritime Gateway welcomed the gathering.
The Chief Minister urged experts from port-led shipping industries to form a 20-member advisory body to provide suggestions to the state government for developing Andhra Pradesh into a global logistics hub.
Speaking as chief guest at the East Coast and Logistics Summit jointly organised by the Global Forum for Sustainable Transformation (GFST) and Maritime Gateway, N. Chandrababu Naidu said the logistics sector plays a key role in boosting the economy and creating employment. He noted that the sector’s contribution to the Gross State Domestic Product currently stands at one percent and emphasised the need to raise it to three percent.
Highlighting the state’s advantages, he said Andhra Pradesh is ideally placed for port cargo exports, with six operational ports and four more under development. He stated that the government is committed to establishing ports or fishing harbours every 50 kilometres along the state’s 1,050-kilometre coastline. Andhra Pradesh currently ranks second in sea cargo transport, with neighbouring states including Telangana, Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and parts of Karnataka depending on its ports.
The Chief Minister announced plans to develop shipbuilding, container repair, and ship recycling units at Dugarajupatnam, Machilipatnam, and other ports, including facilities for the maintenance of defence vessels. He stressed the importance of creating digital logistics platforms, cargo tracking systems, and enhancing rail, road, and air connectivity to all major ports.
“The future is for logistics, and we need to implement next-generation reforms to meet the demands of both local and global markets,” N. Chandrababu Naidu said. Citing Dubai and Singapore as examples, he underlined the need to connect ports with industrial units to reduce logistics costs. He pointed out that logistics costs in India stand at 13 percent compared to 8 percent in other countries and called for measures to reduce this gap.
He also said the government is planning to develop inland water transport to cut logistics costs. Referring to the Buckingham Canal, which was historically used for transport between Kakinada and Chennai, he stressed the importance of reviving inland waterways.
Responding to suggestions from shipping industry CEOs, he said the state government would hold discussions with the Government of India to address key issues. He added that Andhra Pradesh is the only state providing water security and is working on interlinking rivers.
N. Chandrababu Naidu also said Visakhapatnam, which he described as the safest place for women in India, will soon emerge as a major technology hub with the establishment of a data centre. He highlighted the government’s priority on skill development to meet future industrial requirements.
Earlier, the Chief Minister participated in a roundtable conference with CEOs of the shipping and logistics industries. He also released two books and launched the Air Cargo Forum of India Andhra Pradesh Chapter.
Ministers B.C. Janardhana Reddy, Dola Balaveeranjaneya Swamy, and Kondapalli Srinivas, GFST Vice Chairman and Director S.P. Tucker, and other officials were present. Ramprasad Ravi of Maritime Gateway welcomed the gathering.