Telangana CM Revanth Reddy lands state’s first unilever plant, while Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu touts an ambitious 500 MW green energy plan.
Published Jan 21, 2025 | 5:45 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 21, 2025 | 5:45 PM
Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu & Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy
Global FMCG giant Unilever on Tuesday, 21 January, agreed to establish its first significant manufacturing presence in Telangana with two new production facilities, following successful negotiations with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy at the ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland, according to government sources.
Unilever Global CEO Hein Schumacher committed to building a palm oil manufacturing and refining unit in Kamareddy district and a bottle caps production facility in the state. The company’s Indian subsidiary, Hindustan Unilever, currently has no major operations in Telangana.
“We are here to fully support the major entry and growth of Unilever in our state. We must grow together, but without also losing sight of larger sustainability and fairness goals for people and the planet,” Revanth Reddy said.
The chief minister, accompanied by IT & Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu and the Telangana delegation, presented the state’s strategic advantages to Schumacher and Chief Supply Chain Officer Willem Uijen. He highlighted Telangana’s position as a gateway to South, East, West and Central India, emphasising its robust supply chain infrastructure and logistics capabilities.
Unilever’s positive response to Telangana’s proposal marks a significant breakthrough for the state. The bottle caps manufacturing unit is expected to reduce India’s dependence on imports, as Unilever currently sources large quantities from overseas for its liquid products.
Andhra Pradesh will transform into a global green energy and hydrogen hub with planned investments of ₹9.5 lakh crore ($115 billion), Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu announced at the World Economic Forum today.
Speaking at a Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) special session, Naidu revealed ambitious plans to produce 500 MW of renewable energy and 500 million metric tonnes of green energy by 2030, with an aim to contribute 30 percent to India’s national target.
The state recently secured a ₹1.85 lakh crore ($21 billion) green hydrogen project, recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reliance Industries will invest an additional ₹65,000 crore in biofuel initiatives, strengthening the state’s position in sustainable energy.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu addresses a session at Davos. (Supplied)
“With our well-equipped ports like Kakinada, we are poised to export green energy products to the world,” Naidu told the gathering of international business leaders.
He drew parallels with his 1999 power sector reforms. “The country was facing severe power shortages, and industries had to shut down. Despite fears and challenges, I introduced critical reforms, which initially cost me an election. However, today we are reaping the benefits of those decisions,” the chief minister stated.
On Day 2 at Davos, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu conducted over 15 one-on-one meetings with global business leaders, including executives from Welspun, LG Chem, Carlsberg, Tata Group, Walmart, Cisco, and Cognizant.
He participated in key summits focusing on green hydrogen, manufacturing, petrochemicals, energy transition, and blue economy. Naidu also met with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and UAE’s Economy Minister, while engaging with international media like Bloomberg to showcase Andhra Pradesh’s investment opportunities and policies.
Citing Bloomberg’s forecast of India leading global GDP growth from 2027, he predicted: “From 2028 onward, it will be the Indian era.”
The state’s green initiatives include expanding rooftop solar generation, promoting electric vehicles, and introducing drone-based farming techniques. Naidu stressed his administration’s “P4 model” – public-private-people partnership – to ensure inclusive development.
“We will produce quality products for the global community and handhold industrialists to succeed. The speed of doing business is now our mantra,” Naidu declared.
The chief minister also promoted India’s natural and organic farming practices, describing them as “a boon for the global community.” He advocated using artificial intelligence and real-time data to tackle complex developmental challenges.
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Saicharan Sana and Raj Rayasam)
