■ Blueprint to achieve $120 billion economy by 2032 in “Visakha Economic Region” spanning 8 districts, 36,000 sq km and 15.5 million people.

■ Current GDP $49 billions. Officials asked to identify 1 lakh acres across the region. 20-24 lakh jobs planned to be generated by 2032

■ Presentation by NITI Aayog identifies seven growth drivers and 41 major projects in sectors like housing, hospitality, education, etc

■ Clean Energy Policy targeting 135 GW to play key role

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

The Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu unveiled a comprehensive blueprint for the Visakha Economic Region, setting an ambitious target to transform the eight-district zone into a $120 billion economy by 2032. The region is envisioned as the principal growth engine of Andhra Pradesh, leveraging its vast coastline, industrial corridors, and urban potential.

At a high-level review meeting held with NITI Aayog officials at the State Secretariat, Naidu emphasized turning Visakhapatnam into “the next Mumbai”, with large-scale investments, robust infrastructure, and millions of jobs on the horizon.

Comprising Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Anakapalli, Kakinada, East Godavari, Alluri Sitharama Raju, and Parvathipuram Manyam districts, the proposed region covers 36,000 sq km and is home to 15.5 million people. Currently contributing a GDP of $49 billion, the plan envisions nearly doubling that output by the next decade.

The Chief Minister directed the identification of one lakh acres across the region for development projects. Key to the plan is generating 20 to 24 lakh jobs by 2032, with 20 lakh work-from-home opportunities envisioned under a Knowledge Economy model.

A detailed presentation from NITI Aayog identified seven growth drivers: ports, IT, agriculture, tourism, healthcare, urban development, and infrastructure. A total of 41 major projects were earmarked for phased execution, including, 7.5 lakh housing units, 10,000 hotel rooms, 20 innovation centers, 10 colleges, 7,000 hospital beds, 80 million sq. ft. of office space, 60 million sq. ft. of warehousing, and 20,000 hectares of industrial zones.