The 21st State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) meeting, chaired by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu at the Secretariat in Velagapudi, approved 28 industrial proposals involving Rs. 221.78 bn in investment. The projects are expected to generate employment for 19,739 people across energy, information technology and communications, food processing, manufacturing and tourism. Across 21 SIPB meetings, the State has approved 387 projects representing a potential investment of Rs. 14.05 tn and employment opportunities for 1,079,000 people. Naidu instructed officials to ensure that the approved projects move into production quickly, with each project assigned a six-month timeline for commencement of work. The Chief Minister directed the government to create a comprehensive port infrastructure ecosystem along Andhra Pradesh’s coastline. The plan is to integrate logistics, shipbuilding, warehouses, manufacturing and ancillary industries around the State’s ports, while also developing fishing harbours and making better commercial use of land surrounding port facilities. Naidu also called for Andhra Pradesh to emerge as a leading destination for hardware manufacturing, with a focus on semiconductors, chip manufacturing and robotics. He directed officials to strengthen infrastructure at electronics hubs in Kopparthy, Tirupati and Lepakshi and to develop an ecosystem covering research, design, manufacturing, ancillary industries, technology, skills and infrastructure for electronics and solar panel production. The meeting also addressed emerging technology and transport-linked industries. Officials were asked to facilitate research and manufacturing institutions focused on quantum technology and high-performance computing, while cluster industries around drone and space cities are to be connected with allied sectors. Shipbuilding is to be expanded beyond cargo vessels to include defence and tourism requirements, and ports are to be linked with railways, roads, air cargo and inland waterways. Tirupati district, supported by Sri City, ranks 10th nationally in district-wise exports, while East Godavari ranks 12th.