Saint-Gobain will establish a float glass manufacturing plant at Atchutapuram in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli district with an investment of Rs 1,750 crore, a proposed project that the company says will create around 400 jobs.
The investment was announced by N. Sridhar, senior vice-president and CEO of Saint-Gobain, during a meeting with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on the sidelines of the CII Partnership Summit. Sridhar told the chief minister that the company was ready to establish the facility.
The plant will add to Saint-Gobain’s existing manufacturing presence in Andhra Pradesh. The company currently operates units at Tada, Visakhapatnam and Kavali, according to the report. The proposed Atchutapuram facility will manufacture float glass, a major construction input used in building and architectural applications.
Saint-Gobain is also exploring additional investments in the state in plasterboard, gypsum systems and insulation products. These materials are linked to the wider construction-products ecosystem and could broaden the company’s manufacturing footprint beyond glass if the proposals move forward.
The company also plans to establish a skill development centre at Tenali. The facility was discussed alongside the proposed manufacturing investment, although the report did not specify its cost, capacity, course structure or commencement date.
Naidu assured Saint-Gobain of the state government’s support and urged the company to make optimum use of resources available in Andhra Pradesh. He also suggested that the company consider setting up a Global Capability Centre in Visakhapatnam, creating a possible services and corporate-support component alongside its manufacturing operations.
The chief minister invited Saint-Gobain to collaborate with IIT Tirupati to develop Andhra Pradesh as a research hub for construction-related products. He also encouraged the company to participate in supplying products and services for the construction of the capital city of Amaravati.
The proposed investment comes as Andhra Pradesh seeks to expand its industrial base and position construction-related manufacturing as part of its development strategy. The report did not provide a construction schedule, land-allocation details, production capacity, investment phasing or the expected commissioning date for the Atchutapuram plant.
During the meeting, Sridhar said proposed legislation to protect investments in the state had increased confidence among industrialists. He also praised the state government’s development plans and its presentation on Andhra Pradesh’s growth strategy.
For Anakapalli, the project would represent a new industrial investment with a stated employment potential of around 400 jobs. The next milestones will depend on the company’s formal project process and the state government’s support measures, none of which were detailed in the report.
