Information Technology and Human Resource Development Minister Nara Lokesh has emerged as the poster boy of the state’s investment promotion efforts.
Published Oct 21, 2025 | 2:03 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 21, 2025 | 2:03 PM
Andhra Pradesh: Nara Lokesh to lead a GoM for the state's prestigious Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam
Synopsis: Andhra Pradesh claims to have bagged several big-ticket investments. It claims to have attracted commitments worth ₹10 lakh crore across 113 projects, promising over 4.1 lakh jobs. As the 30th Confederation of Indian Industry partnership Summit approaches, the state is preparing to showcase what Lokesh calls a “new Andhra growth story,” built on the pillars of technology, trust, and trade.
In the 16 months since the TDP-led NDA government assumed office in Andhra Pradesh, the state claims to have bagged several big-ticket investments. It claims to have attracted commitments worth ₹10 lakh crore across 113 projects, promising over 4.1 lakh jobs.
Information Technology and Human Resource Development Minister Nara Lokesh has emerged as the poster boy of the state’s investment promotion efforts.
With the 30th Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit set to dazzle Visakhapatnam on 14 and 15 November, Andhra Pradesh is being portrayed as riding high on a wave of investor confidence.
Lokesh’s whirlwind tours — spanning the US, Singapore, Davos, and Sydney — have positioned Andhra Pradesh as a bold new contender among emerging global hubs like Dubai and Singapore. As the Summit approaches, the state is preparing to showcase what Lokesh calls a “new Andhra growth story,” built on the pillars of technology, trust, and trade.
Themed “Technology, Trust, and Trade” and “Navigating the New Geoeconomic Order,” the upcoming CII Summit will serve as a global stage for Andhra Pradesh. Co-hosted by the Union Commerce Ministry and the state government, and chaired by Union Minister Piyush Goyal, the event will feature a high-profile Investment Pavilion and a packed schedule of B2B and B2G meetings.
Discussions will centre on resilient supply chains, Industry 5.0, digital innovation, and sustainability — with Andhra Pradesh pitching itself as a strategic bridge for the Global South’s economic ambitions. Lokesh has hinted at “major announcements” during the event — potentially deals that could push the state closer to its Swarna Andhra Vision 2047, which envisions a $2.4 trillion economy by mid-century.
Lokesh’s aggressive investment drive has been relentless. His October 2024 US visit secured Google’s ₹1.25 lakh crore investment for an AI data hub in Visakhapatnam — one of India’s largest — promising 1.88 lakh jobs. Environmentalists, however, warn that the ecological cost may outweigh the benefits.
Critics also claim the job figures are inflated, arguing the data centre would directly generate only 4,000–5,000 full-time jobs, not the 1.88 lakh being touted. The project is real, they concede, but the hype may not be.
Unfazed by the criticism, Lokesh is pressing ahead. His investment mantra is centred on the “speed of doing business” — backed by eye-catching incentives such as land at 99 paise per acre, round-the-clock power supply, and investor-friendly policies like the IT & GCC Policy 4.0 and the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS).
Currently on a visit to Australia, Lokesh addressed a CII Partnership Summit roadshow in Sydney on October 20, inviting global investors to Visakhapatnam.
“We are developing Visakhapatnam into a trillion-dollar economy. The overall aim is to make Andhra Pradesh a $2.4 trillion economy. We’ve secured investments worth ₹10 lakh crore in the last 16 months — all thanks to the ease-of-doing-business ecosystem we’ve built,” he said.
Engaging with the Telugu NRI community, Lokesh sought their support in advancing the state’s ports, energy, and logistics sectors.
At Davos in January 2025, he inked Maersk’s ₹8,300 crore logistics deal, while his July 2025 Singapore trip yielded strategic partnerships with YouTube and other digital innovators.
Andhra Pradesh’s incentive-driven strategy is drawing heavyweight investors.
The projects span the state’s emerging industrial corridors — Visakhapatnam (IT/AI), Anantapur (automotive and manufacturing), and Kurnool (renewables) — reflecting the government’s push for balanced regional growth.
Critics — including Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge — have dismissed Lokesh’s big-ticket announcements as “all thunder, no rain,” pointing to Andhra’s ₹10 lakh crore public debt and the ₹22,000 crore incentive package for Google as evidence of fiscal recklessness.
However, ground realities tell a different story. Greenko’s Pinnapuram project is fully operational, Sify’s Visakhapatnam centre is under construction, and Reliance’s biogas pilot has broken ground. Within just over a year, Andhra has laid foundations, allocated land, and issued tenders for dozens of mega projects — a remarkable pace by any standard.
No major cancellations or delays have been reported, and another ₹1 lakh crore in deals is reportedly in the pipeline. Lokesh’s international engagements, especially the Google AI hub, are being projected as reshaping investor perceptions. Startups are beginning to view Andhra Pradesh as a potential alternative to Bengaluru.
Still, challenges persist. The state’s rising debt raises questions about the sustainability of its incentives, while job creation depends heavily on completing critical infrastructure like ports, power grids, and industrial parks. Lokesh’s combative political style invites scrutiny, but for now, the rain appears to be falling — even if it’s not yet a monsoon.
Visakhapatnam is now being branded as the Greater Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor, and Lokesh’s latest outreach to NRIs in Sydney underscores his focus on ports, energy, and logistics. The climate for investment has been built — and commitments are pouring in.
Soon, the results will have to show. After all, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
