Andhra Pradesh Draws Rs 25,000 Crore Investment at Visakhapatnam Conference as Rajnath Singh Launches Warship
Visakhapatnam hosted two major events this week that together underscored the city's growing strategic and economic importance — a regional investment conference at IIM-Visakhapatnam that drew corporate commitments worth nearly Rs 25,000 crore, and a defence ceremony where Rajnath Singh launched Fleet Support Ship-1 at Hindustan Shipyard Limited. Meanwhile, Bollywood actor Dulquer Salmaan's film shoot in the city drew large crowds.
🏢 Andhra Pradesh Attracts Rs 25,000 Crore and 57,000 Jobs at IIM Visakhapatnam Investment Conference
Andhra Pradesh secured investment commitments worth nearly Rs 25,000 crore at its first regional investment conference, held at IIM-Visakhapatnam, as the state ramps up outreach ahead of the November CII Partnership Summit. The conference resulted in 31 formal agreements spanning high-growth sectors including industrial development, energy, and manufacturing. The proposed investments are expected to generate close to 57,000 jobs across Andhra Pradesh, according to an official release. Notably, Himadri Speciality Chemical committed the largest single investment at Rs 5,000 crore, followed by Oriana Power with Rs 4,500 crore and Granules India with Rs 4,000 crore. ReNew Photovoltaics also pledged Rs 1,500 crore, contributing to the state's renewable energy pipeline. Beyond new commitments, the conference saw the grounding or inauguration of 33 projects involving Rs 3,519 crore in investment, with those projects projected to create 9,449 direct jobs specifically through the State Investment Promotion Board, tourism, and MSME sectors. The scale of investment interest points to growing confidence in Andhra Pradesh's economic trajectory after a period of political transition, and positions Visakhapatnam as a credible anchor for the state's industrial ambitions on the Bay of Bengal coast. [1]
🗳️ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Launches Fleet Support Ship-1 at Hindustan Shipyard in Vizag
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Visakhapatnam to launch Fleet Support Ship-1 at Hindustan Shipyard Limited, a Visakhapatnam-based public sector shipyard that has been a cornerstone of India's naval industrial base. The launch marked a significant addition to the Indian Navy's fleet support capacity, with the vessel designed to provide at-sea replenishment and logistical support for naval operations. As part of the ceremony, the Defence Minister also unveiled a new aero-engine production line developed by HAL at their facility in Koraput, Odisha. At HSL, the upgraded Slipway-4 featured in the proceedings — a facility that has been extended and enhanced to allow the shipyard to build and launch vessels of up to 45,000 DWT, significantly expanding HSL's capability to undertake large-scale naval and commercial shipbuilding contracts. The Defence Minister also attended a Barakhana — a traditional military banquet — hosted by the Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam, an occasion that brought together naval officers and acknowledged the command's role in India's maritime security in the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean region. [8]
🎬 Dulquer Salmaan's Team Manages Fan Surge During Sri Sri Film Shoot in Visakhapatnam
Malayalam and Telugu cinema star Dulquer Salmaan's presence in Visakhapatnam for a shoot of the upcoming film Sri Sri attracted large crowds, particularly female fans, requiring his team to step in to manage the surge. Videos from Visakhapatnam showed the actor's team physically trying to hold back fans who attempted to approach the filming location. The incident illustrated the deep enthusiasm for Dulquer Salmaan among audiences in Andhra Pradesh, where the actor commands a substantial following across Telugu-speaking communities. Film shoots in Visakhapatnam have historically drawn curious onlookers given the city's scenic coastal backdrops — including RK Beach, Rushikonda, and the INS Kurikam submarine museum — which are frequently used as film locations. The crew's management of the fan situation allowed the shoot to continue despite the disruption. The Sri Sri production adds to a string of recent high-profile film activities in Visakhapatnam, reinforcing the city's growing reputation as a preferred southern Indian filming destination outside of Hyderabad. Dulquer Salmaan's popularity across language communities reflects his crossover appeal in both Mollywood and Tollywood. [4]
Sources: [1] TradingView · [8] ETV Bharat · [4] NDTV