Chandrababu Naidu aims to make Andhra Pradesh global maritime hub

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to transform the state into a global maritime hub by leveraging its 1,053-km coastline, the longest in the country. He urged officials to draft a comprehensive maritime policy that can unlock the state’s coastal potential and drive sustainable economic growth.
During a review meeting on Wednesday, Naidu stressed that Andhra Pradesh must aim to become a world-class maritime state by developing infrastructure that supports port-led industrialization. He highlighted the importance of creating high-capacity ports using a hub-and-spoke model, which would link port areas with industrial corridors and boost connectivity across sectors like tourism, industries, and infrastructure.
Officials briefed the Chief Minister on the proposed maritime policy, which focuses on four key areas: port development, the establishment of ship-building and repair clusters, the growth of maritime-related industries, and the development of areas surrounding ports. Naidu directed them to prioritise partnerships with global companies to set up ship-building and repair units and integrate green energy and tourism initiatives within the maritime sector.
He also emphasized the importance of skill development, proposing the establishment of a maritime university in the state and partnerships with institutions like the Indian Maritime University and IITs. These collaborations, he said, would not only enhance research capabilities but also sharpen the skills of the state’s youth.
Naidu called for radical reforms in governance, particularly in arbitration and dispute resolution mechanisms, to attract investments and ensure efficient management of maritime projects. Strengthening the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board, he added, is essential to achieving these ambitious goals.
The officials informed the Chief Minister that Andhra Pradesh currently ranks second in the country in handling non-major port cargo, with a 16% growth in export-import (EXIM) trade. The state also secured the top position in seafood exports last year, recording a 32% growth.
Andhra Pradesh currently has one major port in Visakhapatnam, five operational non-major ports, and four greenfield ports under construction, with seven more ports already notified for development. Naidu expressed confidence that with the right infrastructure and policy framework, the state could emerge as a key player in the global maritime economy.