After Telangana, Kitex mulls investments in Andhra Pradesh

Kitex Garments, a Kerala-based textile company, has evinced interest in investing in Andhra Pradesh. The company has reportedly expressed keen interest in setting up a facility in Satya Sai district, which is very close to the Bengaluru international airport and Krishnapatnam port. 

Andhra Pradesh Handlooms and Textiles Minister S. Savitha, who visited the company’s headquarters in Kochi on Saturday, has said the company’s management would soon meet Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to discuss their investment plans.

The Minister has visited the manufacturing facility and interacted with employees.

The Minister said that the ‘double engine government’ in Andhra Pradesh has attracted investments to the tune of ₹9.70 lakh crore in the last 10 months.

She said that the handloom sector was being given high priority, and a new Textiles Policy was recently introduced to promote the sector in a big way.

In a statement, she said the company can source raw material from Kurnool district. She said Kitex recently announced huge investments in Telangana.

Dramatic move

Kitex Garments Chairman and Managing Director Sabu M Jacob hit the national headlines in 2021, when he announced a Rs 1,000-crore investment at Warangal’s Kakatiya Mega Textiles Park.

The then BRS Government sent a chartered aircraft to Kochi to bring Jacob to Hyderabad after reading reports of Sabu sulking over the Kerala Government’s indifferent attitude. The episode hit the national headlines.

K T Rama Rao, who was holding the Industries Portfolio then, offered all support to the company. Sabu grabbed the offer and agreed to set up the anchor facility at the park.

However, the company’s plans did not go well in Telangana. A change in Government didn’t help either. “The park didn’t take off well so did Kitex’ plans,” a source in the textiles industry, who didn’t want to be quoted, told businessline.

Published on June 7, 2025