HYDERABAD | MUMBAI: South Korea’s Kia Motors may put in as much as Rs 10,000 crore in one of the biggest foreign direct investment projects in India, with the Hyundai Motor unit selecting Andhra Pradesh for its maiden facility after a twoyear, four¬state search in Asia’s thirdlargest car market.

Two persons aware of the development told ET that Kia, a unit of South Korea’s biggest carmaker, has chosen Penukonda in Anantapur district in southern Andhra Pradesh, which is starting the process of buying land for the factory. Kia’s choice of Andhra Pradesh — amid intensifying interstate rivalry to draw investments as part of the Make¬inIndia initiative — helps reinforce N Chandrababu Naidu’s credentials as a business ¬friendly chief minister.

BEL has been allotted 559 acres in Palasamudram

The Andhra Government has allotted land to two big central government undertakings in the Gorantlamandal of Anantapur district.

While BEL has been allotted 559 acres in Palasamudram, Tungodu and Somendapalli villages, National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN) has been allotted 285 acres in the same villages. This is a welcome development for Anantapur district. BEL is expected to manufacture missiles at this facility.

HYDERABAD: Hindupur in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh will now house the prestigious National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN) where the probationary Indian Revenue Service (IRS) will be imparted training.

It will be the second NACEN in the country and the first in South India. At present, NACEN is located at Faridabad in Haryana, which is also the regional training centre of the World Customs Organisation for the South-Asia region.

Airbus to set up shop in Anantapur

Airbus, one of the world's leading commercial aircraft manufactures, it is reliably learnt, is looking to set up shop in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.

Speaking to The Hindu, the Anantapur Collector, Solomon Arogyaraj, said that the officials of Airbus had indeed approached the State government which had offered them 250 acres of land near Palasamudram village of the Gorantla mandal.

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