Andhra Pradesh urges HD Hyundai to shift proposed shipyard to Kakinada

The state administration of Andhra Pradesh has formally reached out to Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD Hyundai) with a proposal to move the company's envisaged shipbuilding complex from Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, to the coastal city of Kakinada in the East Godavari district. Officials said the overture is part of a broader strategy to attract large‑scale manufacturing projects that can generate substantial employment and ancillary business.

Kakinada, already home to a deep‑water port and several petrochemical units, is being positioned as a hub for heavy industry. State leaders argue that the region offers ample land, robust logistics infrastructure and a skilled labour pool, which could accelerate the shipyard's construction and operational timelines.

The move comes amid intense competition among Indian states to secure foreign direct investment in strategic sectors such as shipbuilding. While Thoothukudi was initially earmarked for the project, Andhra Pradesh hopes its incentives and development plans will persuade HD Hyundai to reconsider the location, potentially reshaping the industrial landscape of the state's coastal belt.