Vizag and coastal cities to be growth engines of Seemandhra: ASSOCHAM

Hyderabad, Feb 21 : Hoping that the Telangana issue is clinched once and for all, ASSOCHAM today said its members in Andhra Pradesh and other adjoining south Indian states feel that the coastal cities of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagram are likely to attract incremental investment in Seemandhra while Hyderabad will continue to retain its appeal as the global hub of business activities.

“We only hope that the political turmoil over the Telangana issue is over and the two new states will flourish even more after creation of Telangana. The special package and status to Seemandhra will make it an attractive centre of industrial investment. The locational advantages of Visakhapatnam being an important port city along with a well laid-out railway network will make the area a very attractive business proposition since the new investment will be eligible for a tax holiday”, ASSOCHAM President Rana Kapoor said.

He said special efforts should also made to pump in development funds in the Rayalseema region which remains a backward area whereas the coastal Andhra is blessed with agricultural prosperity and natural advantage of rivers.

Kapoor further said the new government should place special emphasis on development of the backward areas throughout the country, be it Naxal affected eastern India or some areas in southern and northern India which have not been able to keep pace with the rest of the country.  INN