CII Partnership Summit set for take-off in Vizag today: AP eyes Rs 12-lakh cr investments

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh is embarking on a monumental 'Bhagiratha' effort to attract global investments, bring advanced technologies into the state and create lakhs of employment opportunities for its youth, as Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu seeks to accelerate the state's industrial transformation and position it as a major player in the global economy.

The ambitious drive gathers momentum with the 31st CII Partnership Summit scheduled for November 12 and 13 in Visakhapatnam. The event will bring together union ministers, foreign government ministers, global industry leaders and technology policymakers to explore investment and trade opportunities amid a rapidly changing global economic order.

Organised by the State government in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at the AU Engineering Grounds, the summit is backed by a proposed investment pipeline of Rs 12,13,853.23 crore. As many as 141 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and 30 Government Orders are lined up for exchange, with the potential to generate 2,46,373 jobs. These include a dedicated agreement with Kia and two MoUs under the government's P4 initiative.

Themed 'Navigating the New World Order: Trade, Technology, Trust and Thought Leadership', the summit comes as countries reposition supply chains and compete for strategic industries, advanced technologies and manufacturing investments. Andhra Pradesh is seeking to turn these global shifts into opportunities for capital inflows, technology partnerships and industrial expansion.

The political and international participation reflects the summit's significance. Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and Chief Minister Naidu will participate, while Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan will attend the valedictory session alongside Governor S. Abdul Nazeer and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.

Central Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Sarbananda Sonowal and Chirag Paswan will lead sectoral discussions.

The overseas delegation includes UAE Economy and Tourism Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Slovak Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický, Singapore Minister of State Gan Siow Huang and Canada's International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu. Ministers from Nepal, Mauritius, Guatemala, Cambodia, Myanmar and Tanzania, along with WIPO Director General Daren Tang, are also expected.

The agenda spans artificial intelligence, satellite technologies, ports, shipbuilding, energy, aviation, defence, food systems and infrastructure, alongside country sessions on Japan, the UAE, Russia, Europe and Africa. Space technology, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, skills, tourism and energy resilience will feature prominently. A fireside conversation with Naidu will focus on P4 and the government's zero-poverty objective.

The summit comes at a critical stage in Andhra Pradesh's industrial strategy: converting investment announcements into operational projects, manufacturing capacity and sustainable employment.

Since June 2024, the state has attracted investment intent for 714 projects worth Rs 22.6 lakh crore, with the potential to create 19.3 lakh jobs. Of these, 526 projects worth Rs 17.2 lakh crore have been converted, while 303 projects involving Rs 7.1 lakh crore have been grounded or are being grounded, according to figures available at the end of October 2026.

The NDA government has made industrialisation and employment generation central to its development agenda. Its 'Speed of Doing Business' approach seeks to accelerate approvals through digital governance, deregulation and land reforms. A Group of Ministers has been constituted to pursue the target of 20 lakh jobs by 2029.

Naidu has also assured investors of no political or bureaucratic interference, with incentive payments backed by sovereign-backed escrow arrangements.

Five regional investment conferences have already attracted 194 MoUs worth Rs 86,522.07 crore, potentially creating 1,47,951 jobs. Another 68 projects worth Rs 5,714.06 crore were grounded or inaugurated, foundations were laid for 15 MSME Parks and 10 provisional allotment orders were issued.

The 2025 summit attracted more than 3,000 delegates from 62 countries and recorded investment commitments exceeding Rs 13 lakh crore.

A parallel Women & Growth Summit featuring Smriti Irani will be held at Novotel on November 12 and 13. The AP Pavilion will showcase industrial parks, Amaravati, tourism, culture and heritage, while the MSME exhibition will feature enterprises selected through regional conferences. The exhibition will remain open to the public on November 14.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

K Varaprasada Rao

K Varaprasada Rao[email protected]

K Varaprasada Rao is a Senior Reporter with The Hans India, covering the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat, Chief Minister's Office (CMO), State Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council and political affairs. With over 20 years of experience in journalism in Andhra Pradesh, he has extensively reported on governance, public policy, politics, and socio-economic issues that shape the state's development and influence the country's evolving landscape. He holds a postgraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. His reporting focuses on finance, industries, irrigation, agriculture, infrastructure, investment, public administration, and political developments, with a particular interest in analysing their long-term economic and social impact.

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