Germany's Linde Group to invest $200 million in Andhra

Germany's Linde Group plans to invest $200 million in freezing of sea food and adding value to exports in Andhra Pradesh, which tops in fisheries production in India.

The Linde Group officials, who met Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in Vijayawada on Friday, said that the company also has a base in Gujarat and is looking for a strong base in Andhra Pradesh.

"Andhra Pradesh has a long coast and has strong production of sea food. We want to support you in freezing of sea food and add value to exports. We are looking to invest over $200 million," said Linde Group's CEO Wolfgang Buchele.

According to a statement from the chief minister's office, Buchele explained Linde Group's expertise in cryogenic freezing of food, international gases market and engineering expertise in supporting olefin plants, natural gas plants and air separation plants, as well as hydrogen and synthesis gas plants.

Linde's executive board member Sanjiv Lamba said that the group is also interested in Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) and auto components.

Lamba said that the company is also interested to set up an air-circulation plant, a lab and an academy that will train the personnel required for supporting food processing.

Explaining the advantages of Andhra Pradesh, Naidu said that the government is planning to make it the logistics hub of southeast Asia. He advised the company officials to send their team to study the agriculture and allied activities in the state and identify business opportunities.

The chief minister said that the Linde Group can also work on cold storage facilities in 13 food parks that are coming up across the state.