The brand value of Visakhapatnam has received global recognition due to successful hosting of CII Partnership Summit and International Fleet Review and the selection of the city for development as a smart city by the Central government.
Visakhapatnam with its scenic beauty, the virgin beaches and green-capped hillocks and a robust industrial base has now emerged as one of the most searched cities on Google and other search engines. The city has hit the headlines due to overwhelming response to the IFR and the Partnership Summit.
The summit, also named as Sunrise Andhra Pradesh Investment Meet, has attracted investment proposals to the tune of Rs.4.78 lakh crore from across the globe.
“The three developments — IFR, Partnership Summit and selection as smart city among 20 locations chosen by Union Urban Development Ministry — have increased the brand image of Visakhapatnam manifold,” said Sravan Shipping Managing Director and vice-president of Andhra Chamber of Commerce and Industry Federation G. Sambasiva Rao.
He said these developments would not only contribute immensely to the GDP and bring investors to Visakhapatnam but also make a major contribution to the State exchequer. He said now people in various countries have started talking about Visakhapatnam as an excellent place with good connectivity.
Many say the city would get major investments in tourism sector. “It’s a beautiful city on earth. The Centre will extend all-out support to put it in world tourism map,” Union Tourism Secretary Vinod Zutshi said during a meeting with stakeholders held to discuss efforts to introduce cruise tourism from Visakhapatnam to Bheemunipatnam and Kakinada.
“Everyone is now talking about Visakhapatnam. This is what we were all looking at. There is smart response to the smart city move after holding Partnership Summit and IFR,” said CII Vizag zone chairman Neeraj Sarda.
With the city’s visibility going up, now it is the responsibility of the authorities to explore the potential fully to make it an industrial and tourism hub and the denizens to maintain its beauty after facelift given to the city as part of preparations to host two mega international events, he said.
