Projecting Andhra Pradesh as an ideal destination for food processing investments, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said the state is uniquely positioned with five agro-climatic zones, abundant aquaculture and horticulture production and a strong industrial base. Addressing the India Food Manufacturing Summit organized by the Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) in Visakhapatnam, the Chief Minister said Andhra Pradesh contributes 9 per cent of India’s total food processing output, valued at nearly USD 49 billion. 

Highlighting the state’s production strength, Naidu said Andhra Pradesh contributes 15.6 per cent of India’s fruit output, making it the “fruit capital of India.” The state accounts for 32 per cent of marine seafood exports and also ranks first in registered food industries, with over 6,000 functional units. The Chief Minister said Andhra Pradesh leads the nation in the production of rice, mango, banana, chilli, turmeric, shrimp, fish and eggs contributing 17.85 per cent of India’s eggs and 10.41 per cent of meat exports. The government has set a target of attracting Rs 30,000 crore investments and creating three lakh jobs in the food processing sector over the next five years.

He mentioned that the state offers a world-class ecosystem for investors with nine integrated food parks providing plug-and-play facilities, cold storage, and warehousing infrastructure. He also noted that AP Food Processing Policy 4.0 provides highly attractive incentives including investment subsidies, power cost concessions, and fast-tracked approvals through a single-window clearance system.Earlier, Avinash Joshi, Secretary, Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries, praised the state’s efforts and called for greater value addition and measures to reduce food wastage. TPCI Chairman Mohit Singla announced the establishment of TPCI’s Southern Regional Office in Amaravati, reinforcing the state’s growing prominence in the sector.