In a significant move to boost Andhra Pradesh’s economic growth, Minister Nara Lokesh is currently touring the United States, focusing on attracting investments in the IT and electronics sectors. The minister’s visit has already marked several important developments, particularly in San Francisco, where he engaged with prominent business leaders and technology companies.
During a notable roundtable conference organized by Indian Consul General Srikar Reddy, Nara Lokesh presented Andhra Pradesh’s vision for industrial growth and development. He emphasized the state government’s commitment to decentralized development and streamlined business processes, highlighting Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s announcement of six new policies aimed at creating two million jobs for youth in the next five years.
Nara Lokesh outlined several ambitious development projects across the state. The government plans to transform Kurnool district into a Drone Valley, while Chittoor and Kadapa districts are being positioned as electronics manufacturing hubs. Prakasam district will see the development of a bio-fuel ecosystem, showcasing the state’s commitment to diverse industrial growth. The Krishna-Guntur capital region is set to witness development projects worth $5 billion, with Amaravati’s construction scheduled to begin in December.
In Visakhapatnam, which serves as the state’s financial capital, plans are underway to establish a Civil Aviation University and Data Center. Nara Lokesh also announced that TCS would soon commence its operations in the state, further strengthening the IT sector’s presence.
A highlight of Nara Lokesh’s visit was his tour of the Equinix Data Center in San Francisco, where he learned about their network of over 260 international data centers. During this visit, he presented Andhra Pradesh’s electronics policy, which includes attractive incentives such as power subsidies and stamp duty exemptions. The minister extended an invitation to Equinix to establish their presence in Andhra Pradesh, assuring complete government support.
Nara Lokesh’s agenda included one-on-one meetings with influential technology leaders, including Google CTO Prabhakar Raghavan, General Atomics CEO Dr. Vivek Lal, and Neotribe Ventures Founder Kittu Kolluri. During these meetings, Minister Lokesh discussed the projected $300 billion investment opportunity in India’s electronics sector and positioned Andhra Pradesh as an ideal destination for these investments.
Engaging with the Indian diaspora, Nara Lokesh met with approximately 200 party workers and supporters at his hotel in San Francisco. This meeting emphasized the government’s interest in attracting investments from non-resident Indians and showcased the strong connection between Andhra Pradesh and its global community.
-Sanyogita
