San Francisco, USA— Andhra Pradesh's Minister of Education, IT, and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, reinforced the state government's commitment to decentralizing development and enhancing the business climate during a recent roundtable meeting with industrialists. Hosted by the Indian Consul General in San Francisco, Srikar Reddy, the event aimed to attract investments and discuss opportunities for collaboration.
Minister Lokesh shared that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has announced six new policies aimed at generating 2 million jobs for the youth within five years. "Chandrababu Naidu, in his fourth term as Chief Minister, is eager to see significant investments from this community," Lokesh stated, citing the successful establishment of Kia Motors as a model for Andhra Pradesh's business execution.
The minister highlighted the state’s strategic advantages, including its second-largest coastline in India and plans for four new ports. He mentioned initiatives to develop Kurnool district into a Drone Valley and transform Chittoor and Kadapa into an electronics hub. Currently, Andhra Pradesh contributes to 25 percent of India’s mobile phone production and 50 percent of its air conditioners.
Consul General Dr. K. Srikar Reddy hosted a business roundtable on "Opportunities in Andra Pradesh" with Sri Nara Lokesh, Hon'ble Minister for HRD and IT, Government of Andhra Pradesh, in Los Altos, Bay Area, California on October 26, 2024.
— India in SF (@CGISFO) October 27, 2024
The Hon’ble Minister, @naralokesh… pic.twitter.com/Xf2La0gXbn
In terms of infrastructure, Lokesh announced that development projects worth $5 billion will commence in the Krishna and Guntur regions, with construction of the Amaravati capital set to start in December. He emphasized the state's focus on sectors such as aqua exports, petrochemicals, and green hydrogen in the Godavari districts, as well as chemical and pharmaceutical industries in North Andhra. Additionally, plans for a Civil Aviation University and a data center in Visakhapatnam were revealed.
The minister underscored the revival of the Economic Development Board, aiming to position Andhra Pradesh as a global manufacturing hub, and noted the importance of India’s impending data revolution with expected electronics investments reaching $300 billion.
Srikar Reddy, the Indian Consul General, echoed Lokesh's sentiments, emphasizing the collaborative efforts to foster investment in the state. He referenced the recent Drone Summit in Vijayawada as an example of Andhra Pradesh's growing appeal.
The roundtable brought together influential leaders from various sectors, including Indiaspora Founder MR Rangaswami, Google Vice President Rao Surapaneni, and TCS Business Unit Head Keshav Varma, among others. Their participation underscores the increasing interest in Andhra Pradesh's development trajectory.
As the state aims for significant advancements by 2047, Minister Lokesh invited American industrialists to join in the transformative journey of Andhra Pradesh, aligning with Prime Minister Modi’s vision for a developed India.
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