Stresses on devising realistic solutions
Shredding the tone of traditional Political milieu, Mr. Sri Bharat Mathukumilli, Member of Parliament, Visakhapatnam took a realistic stance on addressing industry challenges by asking the industry to come up with a solution-oriented approach rather than problem-oriented approach reiterating the fact that, he wouldn’t be doing false promises.
Speaking as chief guest at the summit “Explore Opportunities and Collaborate on Investment Policies in AP,” the Visakhapatnam MP addressed a range of pressing issues raised by the forum, including the shortage of skilled workers, connectivity challenges at ports, trade union monopolies, and policy gaps in the tourism sector.
Mr. Bharath called on industry leaders to become partners in AP’s development, underscoring the critical gap between education and skilling.
He urged the industry to prioritize issues by assessing both monetary and non-monetary aspects, a step he believes will enable faster and more effective outcomes.
With AP’s public debt nearing approximately Rs. 10 lakh crore, he cautioned that transforming the state’s economic landscape would require phased, realistic planning.
He therefore asked industry representatives to provide clear, step-by-step roadmaps to facilitate sustainable development.
Emphasizing the importance of decentralization and the delegation of authority he made a promising announcement, that the government plans to empower chairpersons of various corporations, such as MSME, Tourism, and the Maritime Board, by equipping them with subject-matter expertise in their respective domains.
Addressing the issue of monopolistic practices, he cautioned that any concentration of power should be used responsibly.
Mr. Mathukumilli also urged corporations to leverage their CSR funds for local development, citing the financial constraints that the State is facing.
Mr. Potluri Bhaskar Rao, Chairman of AP Chamber of Commerce, expressed concerns that despite policy announcements, high logistics, fuel, and power costs remain burdensome for investors.
He argued that addressing these factors is crucial for attracting viable investments and enabling investors to better project their budgets. Dr. G. Sambasiva Rao, Past Chairman of the AP Chamber of Commerce, raised issues specific to the maritime sector, including port connectivity, land utilization, truck parking facilities, and union monopolies.
He emphasized the need to address ground realities to boost employment and economic activity. Mr. Vijay Mohan, Managing Director of Holiday World India; Mr. Panduranga Prasad, President of VASSIWA (Small Scale Industries Association); and Mr. Shobhan Prakash, Vice-Chairman of AP Chambers also spoke and highlighted some pressing issues faced by Industry.
The summit was conducted by the Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and the Vizag Development Council which was presided over by Mr. O. Naresh Kumar, CEO of Symbiosis Technologies.
