The Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board (APMB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with APM Terminals, a subsidiary of global shipping and port management giant A.P. Moller–Maersk, to develop three major ports in the state with an investment of ₹9,000 crore.
The agreement, signed in the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, will pave the way for the development of Ramayapatnam, Machilipatnam and Mulapeta ports, equipped with modern terminals and advanced cargo-handling systems. The project is expected to create nearly 10,000 direct jobs.
Speaking at the event, Naidu said Andhra Pradesh would be developed as the “eastern gateway” for maritime trade and a logistics hub of India. He instructed officials to build an economic ecosystem around the ports and ensure low-cost cargo transport facilities for neighbouring states, including Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Odisha.
The Chief Minister also directed APM Terminals to draw up a comprehensive logistics plan integrating road, rail, inland waterways and air connectivity to strengthen the state’s trade network. He further noted that Andhra Pradesh is implementing an action plan to establish a port or harbour every 50 km along its 1,000-km coastline.
