SRF group keen to set up chemical industry SEZ in Andhra

Delhi-based SRF Group is keen to develop a port-based world-class multi-product special economic zone (SEZ) focused on the chemical industry in Andhra Pradesh.

A team led by Ashish Bharat Ram, president & executive director of SRF Ltd, held preliminary discussions with the state government officials on the prospects of investing for SEZ here today.

The company and the state government are expected to reach an understanding on the project in a few weeks, according to Peter T Hassan, advisor (industries) to the Andhra Pradesh government.

Industry commissioner Sutirtha Bhattacharya and Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation(APIIC) vice-chairman & MD B P Acharya took part in the discussions.

The SRF Group, which has close links with Bharat Forge, is looking at Andhra Pradesh in the wake of the state government's efforts to attract huge investments in the chemical and petrochemical sector near its port facilities.

State government officials had been part of the Centre's high-level team which recently visited the US to interact with top American companies in the sector to explain the investment prospects in India. The company is expected to locate the chemical SEZ near Vizag or Gangavaram port.

It may be recalled that other states like Gujarat and West Bengal are also in the race to attract global companies in the chemical and petrochemical sector to set up operations.

"The vision and professionalism of the government of Andhra Pradesh and authorities concerned with whom we interacted today have given us a lot of comfort and hope in focusing on Andhra Pradesh as our preferred destination. We have our own vision in developing a truly world-class facility," Ashish Bharat Ram said here in a press release.