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Kakinada Gateway Port Limited (KGPL), a subsidiary of Kakinada SEZ Limited (KSEZ), has signed a concession agreement with the government of Andhra Pradesh for the development of a greenfield commercial port in Kona Village, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, located in south-east India.

Investment in the project is projected to be approximately INR21 billion (US$294.5 million). The concession is structured on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis.

KSEZ received the letter of award for the concession on 5 October 2018, with an agreed concession fee of 2.7% of revenue share in the first 30 years of commercial operations, 5.4% of revenue share in the years 31 to 40 and 10.8% revenue share in the years 41 to 50.

In the medium term of 1 to 3 years, the port is expected to generate employment for around 3000 people and investment of INR21.23 billion (US$297.7 million). The port will be developed in an area of approximately 1811 acres within the Kakinada Special Economic Zone (SEZ) industrial park, which is strategically located on the Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor.

The industrial park is already operational with global toy manufacturer Pals Plush established there, employing over 700 women from nearby villages. The company's operations will be scaled up to around 2000 people in due course. M/s. Conneqt Business Solutions (a TATA Group Company) has also established ​operations within the park and will employ 350 people in due course.

Spanning approximately 8521 acres of industrial land, the port is only one of several planned developments at the park. Construction has already begun on sea food processing facilities, and KSEZ is in advance discussions with Standard Group of Bangladesh to set up a Denim jeans manufacturing facility.

The company is also in discussions with other refinery/petrochemical operators regarding the setting up of a refinery at the park. A refinery or other petrochemical projects would attract significant liquid cargo traffic to the port. KSEZ has also signed a gas agreement with Andhra Pradesh Gas Distribution Corporation (APGDC), enabling Kakinada SEZ to be the first industrial park on the eastern coast of India to provide piped natural gas supply to all its industrial units.

KSEZ is owned by Indian conglomerate GMR.