Lokesh pitches AP as investment hub

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh is positioning itself as an investment and innovation hub by combining faster project execution, investor-oriented governance and long-term policy stability, minister for HRD and IT Nara Lokesh said at the Pan-IIT Summit 2026 in Vijayawada on Saturday.

Lokesh said the government’s approach was centred on “Speed, Service and Stability”, with the emphasis shifting from signing MoUs to converting investments into operational projects and jobs.

He said he personally monitored major projects and regularly communicated progress updates to investors. Highlighting policy stability, he said AI was being used to help officials frame government orders that could withstand legal scrutiny and future policy changes.

The recruitment of 16,000 teachers was cited as an example, with past legal cases analysed before finalising the recruitment process. The minister outlined major projects being implemented in the State, including a proposed Rs 1 lakh crore horticulture ecosystem at Madanapalle, a 17 million-tonne greenfield steel plant being established by ArcelorMittal and the Google data-centre project at Visakhapatnam.

He said the foundation for the Google project was laid within 13 months after regulatory and policy issues were addressed. The state is developing 23 sectoral clusters covering horticulture, agriculture, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, cement, solar, renewable energy, space technology, drones, quantum technology and electronics.

Lokesh stressed the need for vertical and horizontal integration so that supply chains, research, skills and manufacturing facilities operate within integrated ecosystems.

He said renewable energy capacity had increased by 4.8 GW in one year, compared with just 6 MW added between 2019 and 2024. AP, currently ranked third, aims to become the top State and would need to add around 20 GW annually, he said.

Lokesh also invited IIT alumni to contribute expertise and networks to the 23 clusters. He proposed stronger industry-academia collaboration, including rapid prototyping and research facilities at IIT Tirupati.

He said Amaravati was being developed as an education and research hub, with a proposed 5,000-acre greenfield airport forming a major component of its future infrastructure. The government’s objective, he said, was to transform Andhra Pradesh into a developed State within the next decade.

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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