A.P., Hinduja Group ink pact for ₹20,000 cr. investments during Naidu’s U.K. tour

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Hinduja Group for a cumulative investment of ₹20,000 crore, during his tour of the United Kingdom (U.K.) on Monday (November 3). He said in a post on ‘X’ that these investments would accelerate the State’s industrial and clean energy growth.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Ashok P. Hinduja, chairperson of the Hinduja Group, Prakash Hinduja, chairperson of Hinduja Group Europe and Vivek Nanda, CEO of Hinduja Investments & Project Services Ltd.

The CM said the key initiatives under the MoU include expanding the existing 1,050 MW Hinduja National Power Corporation Ltd. (HNPCL) plant in Visakhapatnam by an additional 1,600 MW (2×800 MW), development of large solar and wind projects to strengthen A.P.’s clean energy capacity, setting up of a state-of-the-art electric bus and light vehicle plant to boost sustainable mobility and establishment of a network of EV charging stations to support the State’s green transport ecosystem.

Mr. Chandrababu Naidu, in a separate meeting, called on Nikki Grady-Smith, group chief transformation officer of Rolls-Royce. The duo discussed partnership opportunities in A.P., especially in civil aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities and power systems for upcoming data centers, including both traditional power solutions and small modular reactors to ensure reliable and sustainable energy supply.

The CM also highlighted the potential for a military airstrip and an MRO unit at Orvakal and suggested exploring the possibility of establishing Global Capability Centers in Visakhapatnam and Tirupati and developing an aviation ecosystem and an MRO facility near Bhogapuram airport.

Later, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu met SRAM & MRAM Group chairperson Shailesh Hiranandani, which was followed by a meeting with Samko Holdings Ltd. chairperson Sampath Kumar Mallaya. The SRAM & MRAM Group expressed interest in establishing semiconductor and advanced packaging units in the State.

The CM met Octopus Energy international affairs group director Chris Fitzgerald and deliberated on the investment opportunities in the clean energy sector and the scope for collaboration in renewable energy, data analytics and smart grid management.