Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday said that 1.88 lakh MSMEs have been established in the State in the last four years, providing employment to 12.62 lakh people.

He virtually laid the stone for five projects and inaugurated four units, with a total valuation of Rs 1,100 crore, from his Camp Office in Tadepalli on Wednesday. These units have the potential to create a total of 21,744 jobs.

Asserting that his Government has prioritized the industries sector with special emphasis on MSMEs and food processing. YS Jagan inaugurated 21 industrial development projects and factory complexes established in 18 districts by the Industries Department with Rs 286 crore. The project is expected to attract investments worth Rs 1,785 crore and create 18,034 jobs.

Gokul Agro Resources Private Limited established an edible oil refinery with Rs 250 crore, having a capacity of 4.2 lakh metric tonne capacity was inaugurated at Doruvula Palem in Nellore district. The unit has the potential to employ 1,150 persons. Jagan launched a sesame seeds processing unit, set up by Andhra Pradesh Food Processing Society (APFPS) with Rs 2.5 crore, at Peddiredlapalem in Vizianagaram district. The unit, which would be run by the L Kota Jai Kisan Farmers’ Producers Organization, would employ 20 people.

He also inaugurated the common facility centres at the printing cluster in Kakinada industrial estate established by the Industries Department with an investment of Rs 15 crore and employment potential for 1,000 persons. YS Jagan laid the foundation stone for a starch processing unit to be set up by Sri Venkateswara Bio Tech Pvt Ltd at Kommuru in Eluru district with Rs 144-crore and creating jobs.

Works were launched for a unit of Blue Fin Enterprises with Rs 13 crore at Konada in Vizianagaram district. Potato, millets and wheat-based products will be manufactured at the unit, creating jobs for 45 people. He also laid Foundation stone for Rs 12-crore tomato processing unit, which will be run by Pathikonda Farmers Producers’ Association, at Pathikonda in Kurnool district.

Further, he laid the stone for two Rs 280-crore pharma unit of Sigachi Industries at Orvakal mega industrial hub in Kurnool district. The project, once realised, will provide employment to 850 persons. He also launched works for a nutraceuticals unit, which would be set up by RPS Industries with Rs 90 crore and provide employment to 285 persons.

IT and Industries minister Gudivada Amarnath, Agriculture and Food Processing minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy, Chief Secretary KS Jawahar Reddy, Industries Secretary N Yuvaraj, Principal Secretary Chiranjeev Choudary (Food Processing) and other officials were present.