AP Looks To Generate Rs 3k Crore In Revenue With New Drone Policy

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved a comprehensive drone policy for 2024-29 with a target to establish at least 100 drone companies for manufacturing, research & development, skilling & training and service-enablers with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore. Termed as first of its kind in any State, the policy approved on Wednesday aims to generate Rs 3,000-crore revenue from drones and its associated ecosystem services and drone exports valued at over Rs 1,000 crore.

The Council of Ministers approved the AP Drone Policy 4.0 (2024-29) unanimously. It is noteworthy that the recently held Amaravati Drone Summit 2024 had attracted significant attention of the industry, academia and other stakeholders.

The AP Drone Corporation collected feedback from delegates, participants and exhibitors at the summit and crafted this one of its first kind drone policy to reflect the aspirations of the people and the vision of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Investment and Infrastructure Department Secretary S. Suresh Kumar and AP Drone Corporation CMD K Dinesh Kumar, along with experts, thoroughly worked on this drone policy.

The State government recognises the drone manufacturing and services sector as one of the fastest-growing fields. As part of this initiative, the policy aims to foster the drone ecosystem, empower startups and address local demand, capacity building and employment generation, regulatory framework and supportive environment, advancing research and development and facilitating global market access for local drone manufacturers. The government has announced an allocation of Rs 500 crore to support the implementation of this drone policy throughout the policy period. The policy envisioned establishing 20 drone remote pilot training organizations, 50 Centers of Excellences at Engineering, ITIs and polytechnic institutions. The policy provisioned to train 25,000 drone pilots, creating 40,000 jobs in the sector, increasing adoption of drone technology in to public service delivery, development and implementation of new & innovative drone applications across 100 use cases.