AP to Set Up 138 New MSME Parks, Eyes 1.03 Lakh Jobs

Andhra Pradesh is moving ahead with plans to establish 138 new MSME parks across the state, aiming to create 1.03 lakh jobs and boost entrepreneurship at the grassroots level. This initiative builds on the 19 parks already operational, and is part of the state's broader vision to foster economic growth through micro, small, and medium enterprises.

MSME Minister Kondapalli Srinivas, speaking at an MSME Growth Workshop in Vijayawada, outlined that the new parks are projected to support 2,876 industrial units, drawing investments of approximately ₹8,000 crore. He linked the move to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s “One Family, One Entrepreneur” strategy, which seeks to encourage entrepreneurial activity in every Assembly constituency.

The government is particularly targeting youth, women, DWCRA members, and first-generation business owners. Srinivas highlighted that MSMEs contribute about 30% to India’s GDP and provide more than half of the country’s employment, making their expansion a state priority. To support new ventures, ₹300 crore has been earmarked under the CMEP scheme.

In a push to empower women, the Minister announced that annual processing charges up to ₹33,500 on DWCRA loans have been waived, and rural bank interest rates have been reduced from 13% to 12%. "Society can progress when women grow as entrepreneurs," Srinivas said, emphasizing the shift from mere credit access to sustainable business creation.

Vijayawada East MLA Gadde Rammohan called on women to leverage government support to become job creators. The workshop also saw participation from representatives of Meta, Amazon Global Selling, Walmart Vriddhi, and CII-NITI Aayog’s DX EDGE, with sessions on digital adoption, e-commerce, exports, and ZED certification. These awareness workshops, part of the RAMP programme, are set to continue in Krishna, Kakinada, Palnadu, and Guntur districts.