Tirupati: Sri City exhibits growth potential amid Covid

Tirupati: The year 2020 has been the most unprecedented one, with no country in the world spared of the vagaries and the chaos that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused. Though the virus has pushed the world into economic crisis throwing up numerous challenges to mankind, Sri City in Chittoor district has focused efficiently in preventing the virus with various measures.

To reduce the risk of transmission within the community, Sri City strictly implemented all the stipulated health protocols. As the situation in the region was rapidly changing, Sri City teams have been on their toes educating the community and the untiring efforts have yielded effective results. Though it was surrounded by containment zones all around, with the cooperation of all the stakeholders, Sri City remained as a 'corona-free' region.

Several Sri City units like Pals Plush, VRV Asia Pacific, Vital Paper and TIL Healthcare were actively engaged in producing quality healthcare products, ranging from high quality Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits to lifesaving drugs to emergency hospital bed to medical oxygen cylinders during the lockdown. Commenting on this Sri City MD Ravindra Sannareddy, said that all these units have churned out products, with minimum staff and facilities.

Noting the need to turn Covid crisis into an opportunity to create Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) Sri City, the management has embarked on serious plans to identify the important areas in which self-sufficiency needs to be achieved on a priority basis. Invest India identified Sri City region as one among the ten great places for manufacturing in the country, exhibiting great potential in attracting investments from other countries across the globe.

It bagged 'Top 100 Senior Finance Professionals in India' award, 'Iconic Brand of the Year' & 'CFO of the Year' and Brand Story's India's Leading Brand-2020 award. Also, Sri City got ISO certifications ISO:9001:2015 and ISO:14001:2015 this year.

During the year, seven new customers signed MoUs, at a committed total investment worth of Rs 1,158 crore and with a scope to offer employment to over 2,378 people. This year, the cumulative export value from Sri City SEZ units is approximately Rs 2,505 crore. Four new companies have kicked off the construction works of their plants, and nine units went on stream marking the entry into operational phase. As of now, more than 20 % of the units have gone in for plant expansion.

Sri City's new online job portal (www.sricityjobs.in) that provides a single window facility for job seekers and employers was launched during the year. It serves as an online recruitment platform which features job vacancies in Sri City units.