'AP will give competition to Gujarat in ease of doing business'

Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh, which is taking steps to improve investment climate would give a tough competition to Gujarat, which was ranked top among the states on ease of doing business index last year, a top government official today said here.

DIPP Secretary Amitabh Kant said this year the department would rank the states on about 340 points. Last year, the World Bank ranked the states on about 100 parameters.

Gujarat was ranked top last year by the World Bank while Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand were placed at the second and third positions, respectively.

"Couple of months back, we did a competition amongst states on 100 points of ease of doing business and Andhra Pradesh came number two among all states Andhra Pradesh I am sure will give Gujarat a run for its money and Gujarat is really working hard to maintain its number one position simple because Andhra Pradesh is driving it too hard this year," Kant said adding "so there will be really really tough competition."

He was speaking at the CII Partnership Summit here. Kant also said if India has to grow in the long-run at 8-10 per cent, Andhra Pradesh will be one of the main drivers of that growth.

"Because this is a one state where land is available in adequate amount, it has well developed ports, it has skilled manpower and there is an entrepreneurship and a dynamic political leadership," he said.

"With Andhra Pradesh planing a key role, India will achieve its destiny of driving growth of 9-10 per cent over the next three decade period," he added.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has promised to facilitate investments and take steps for faster clearances and approvals.