Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation to rope in professionals to market its project

HYDERABAD: With many plots in special economic zones (SEZ) and industrial parks, developed by the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC), lying vacant due to lack of poor marketing, the corporation has decided to rope in professionals to market its project like private developers.

For marketing and promoting its SEZs and industrial parks, the APIIC is now in the process of hiring marketing and communication managers. The marketing professionals will knock on the doors of big industrialists and promoters and invite them to set up shop at the SEZs and industrial parks.

As of now, 115 SEZs, mostly in the past decade, have come up in the state. Of them, 76 SEZs were notified and others have formal approval. Among the notified, 17 were promoted by APIIC. Another six SEZs were taken up as joint venture projects like Fab City in the city and Ramky Pharma City in Visakhapatnam. Similary, 30 SEZs were promoted by private developers and 21 were developed by private parties with the assistance of APIIC.

"APIIC is developing an international leather park in Krishnapatnam in an extent of 487 acres (50 plots) by pumping in Rs 172 crore. Our marketing team will meet 20 industrialists and entrepreneurs working in the leather industry and present facilities and features being provided at the park (on the lines of a Chittoor-based SEZ promoter)," APIIC vice-chairman and managing director Jayesh Ranjan told STOI.

Apart from the leather park, APIIC has proposed to develop a 'Games City' in Raidurg for gaming, animation media and entertainment in an extent of 30 acres on the lines of the Singapore Multi Media Super Corrdior and Dubai Media City. Similarly, Financial Tower is being developed by the Infrastructure Corporation in 302 acres in Nanakramguda with four lakh built up space, which needs a good marketing strategy.

Officials said over 1,500 plots ranging between five acres and 25 acres (nearly 2.91 crore square metres) were lying vacant in industrial parks in the state, including 496 plots in Shamshabad, 137 in Jeedimetla industrial area, 108 in Patancheru, four plots in Moula Ali, 366 plots in Kurnool and 166 plots in Visakhapatnam.

"Lethargic APIIC officers do not even make any effort to attract entrepreneurs. Even if any entrepreneur goes to them seeking land allotment, they make him do the rounds for getting a plot," an industrialist remarked.

However, officials claim since April plot allotment application was posted online to simplify procedures and ensure hassle-free clearances. They said nearly 1,500 applications were received online and over 600 were cleared till this month.