At the recent Collectors’ Conference in Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu exhorted District Collectors (DCs) to play a proactive role in attracting investments to supplement the efforts of the State Investment Promotion Committee, the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB), the AP Economic Development Board and other agencies. At the district level, there are District Industries Promotion Committees which have DCs as their chairpersons.

These Collectors have their work cut out for them as the CM has decided to assign ranks to districts on the basis of how much investment and employment has been created, and based on the Speed of Doing Business (SoDB). These DCs are not only expected to hold meetings with prospective entrepreneurs but also convince them to set up units in their districts. Further, the CM wants DCs to focus on giving prompt regulatory clearances in order to set a benchmark when it comes to SoDB.