Industrial parks play a paramount role in spurring economic growth and activity in a given region.

With developers creating state of the art infrastructure coupled with plug and play facilities, encompassing all sustainability measures industrial parks today are not just providing mere space but are increasingly catalysing investments into a specific region.

One such new entrant in this space is the world-renowned steel behemoth JSW group which looks to develop world-class industrial ecosystems.

Known for setting industry benchmarks and committed to innovation, scale, operational growth, and sustainability the JSW group aims to create Industrial parks with global benchmarks in infrastructure, sustainability, and scalability.

And to lead this important business vertical JSW has roped in industry veteran Mr Rajaram Pai as the Chief Business Officer of JSW Industrial Parks.

With over 30 years of experience across diverse sectors Mr Rajaram has his task cut. In an exclusive interview to Vizag Industrial Scan Mr Rajaram spoke on the group’s entry into Industrial parks, key sectors of focus and importantly their 1st industrial park which is coming up right here in the state of Andhra Pradesh at Vizianagaram.

Could you please provide a brief overview of the JSW Group?

The JSW Group is a diverse and multi-billion-dollar conglomerate headquartered in India, and a leader in several sectors, including steel, cement, power, energy, sports, infrastructure, and automotive.

The group is known for setting industry benchmarks and is committed to innovation, scale, operational growth, and sustainability.

Under the visionary leadership of Chairman Mr. Sajjan Jindal and his son Mr. Parth Jindal, the group has embarked on diverse ventures, including JSW Industrial Parks business vertical.

Why has the group chosen to venture into industrial parks?

JSW envisions providing a strong enabling platform through its businesses for ‘Make in India,’ and industrial parks are an integral element in that vision.

JSW Industrial Parks represents a strategic initiative aimed at developing world-class industrial ecosystems that align with global benchmarks in infrastructure, sustainability, and scalability.

Each park is meticulously master-planned, incorporating advanced urban design and infrastructure principles to ensure high operational efficiency, environmental stewardship, and readiness for investment.

JSW’s first industrial park in India has been launched in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh and the second one is planned in Salboni, West Bengal.

What led the group to choose Andhra Pradesh and Vizianagaram for JSW’s first industrial park?

Andhra Pradesh is a state rich in opportunities and is rapidly progressing, blessed with numerous advantages. It offers a skilled workforce, a long coastline, abundant natural resources, effective governance, and an overall business-friendly atmosphere, making it an attractive place to do business.

Under the dynamic leadership of Mr. Chandrababu Naidu, the state has become an attractive destination for investments, emphasizing good governance and improving the speed of doing business.

Vizag is the ‘Jewel of the East’ and several large investments are flowing into the city. JSW is an active participant in the Government of Andhra Pradesh’s vision to develop North Andhra with a park that has best-in-class, plug-and-play infrastructure for large and MSME companies, hence JSW identified Vizianagaram.

Could you provide more details about the location of this park and whether the land is owned by the group?

This industrial park spans 1,166 acres and is located on NH516, conveniently connected to Visakhapatnam (~50 Kms) and Airport, Port, and Rail Heads.

JSW believes that the establishment of this park will transform the region into a major economic powerhouse. Yes, the land is owned by the group.

How much has the group invested in this park, and what employment potential does it hold?

With abundant water supply and power availability, the site is poised to support rapid industrial growth. There is enormous potential for investment in this region, especially with the park’s plug-and-play facilities.

The plan is to invest over Rs 530 crores to establish the park infrastructure. Overall, we anticipate a total investment of Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 crores from diverse businesses over the next five years, with the potential to create over 40,000 jobs (direct & indirect).

This investment will play a crucial role in transforming the region’s economic landscape and supporting local communities.

What types of industries is the park looking to attract?

JSW Industrial Park, with the infrastructure (plots, BTS, well-planned design), will enable multi-sectoral industries to set up operations.

The park has already obtained Environmental Clearance (up to orange category industries) and can accommodate a wide range of businesses (MSMEs, Large Companies, Manufacturing & Services).

For businesses pioneering new-age technologies, the park offers facilitation for Proof of Concept (PoC) to validate and scale innovations within the network, enabling start-ups to benefit from shared resources, knowledge, and market access.

Could you specify some focus sectors for the park?

The park is sector-agnostic, allowing for a diverse range of industries, and significant interest has been received from sectors such as renewable energy, logistics, food processing, textiles, footwear manufacturing, healthcare, and light to medium engineering firms.

What key features does the park offer to industries?

The park offers numerous features and benefits for industries, including easy access (seamless connectivity via road, rail, and sea), clear land titles, extensive renewable energy options, reliable water availability, and enhanced market access in a sustainable, focused environment.

Alongside the state-of-the-art infrastructure, plug-and-play facilities, and commercial areas, we are committed to the concept of an integrated development encapsulating a well-balanced lifestyle.

The park will also be developing a common facilities center, along with a skill-development center to train and provide industry-ready resources.

When do you see the first plant being operational at the park?

We are working towards facilitating the business operations to start in the first half of FY27.