Andhra Pradesh fights for number 1 spot in ease of doing business, fast tracks clearances to 21 days

VIZAG: The spirit of competition to attract investment is beginning to show results with Andhra Pradesh giving clearances within 21 days to set up businesses in the state.

The state is ranked second after Gujarat in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that the state is working towards creating a business environment and the infrastructure required for business to prosper.

Within one year of bifurcation, the state has been ranked with a score of 70.12%, just one rank below Gujarat which tops with a score of 71.14 %. It has been ranked in the category of ‘Aspiring Leaders’ which means the overall implementation status should be between 50% and 75 %. Seven States - Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan are part of this Group.

"We are simplifying policies and processes to reduce permissions, having single-desk clearances, and giving all clearances within 21 days to set up businesses within the state," he said at the inaugural session of the CII partnership summit here.

This, coupled with factors such as abundant land, skilled labour, lack of labour unrest, coastline/ports that the state offers, would help him realise his vision of making Andhra Pradesh among the top 3 states within India by 2022 and the best destination in the world by 2050. He was expecting a double digit growth of 13-15% to make his vision a reality, and urged industry to invest in the state.

So much was his enthusiasm that he has pitched to host the next years summit also which the government has agreed.