The southern state of Andhra Pradesh attracted Rs 43,000 crore investments during 2012-13 which will provide employment to about 1.65 lakh people.

In the coming days, the state government is set to receive investments worth about Rs 7,000 crore from various companies including FMCG major Proctor & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Pepsico, Cadbury and Siemens among others, who are setting up their projects in the state.

The state government received approval from the centre to establish national manufacturing zones at Chittoor and Medak districts. It has agreed in principle to set up a third manufacturing zone in Prakasam district, he said.

During 2013, the Japanese company Isuzu Motors began works on their project and Mahindra & Mahindra has commenced production of tractors from their plant near Zaheerabad.

Efforts are underway to add 30 lakh acre under new cultivation with irrigation projects. From 2004, the state invested about Rs 73,500 crore for taking up 86 irrigation projects under Jalayaganam.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said efforts made to make Andhra Pradesh an attractive investment destination has begun to yield results. It has gone up in the rankings to No 2.