Lokesh showcases Andhra’s IT and health-tech strength on Australian tour, seeks university ties

Melbourne: Andhra Pradesh’s Minister for Education, IT and RTGS, Nara Lokesh, concluded the fifth day of his Australian tour by securing significant commitments across multiple sectors critical to the state’s development.

The day marked by high-level meetings with academic leaders at the University of Melbourne and the University of Tasmania (UTAS), a crucial interaction with Victoria’s Minister for Tourism and Sports, Steve Dimopoulos, and a strategic discussion with health insurance giant Bupa.

Lokesh meets Bupa Asia Pacific COO

In a significant move to bolster the state’s IT and health-tech ecosystem, Minister Lokesh met with Bijal Sejpal, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Bupa Asia Pacific, along with Dinesh Kanteti (Head of Enterprise Intelligence).

Highlighting the rapid emergence of Visakhapatnam as a major hub for IT and data centres, the Minister extended an invitation to Bupa, a global health insurance and services leader headquartered in London, to establish a Global Capability Centre (GCC) in the city.

Rural digital health services

The minister proposed a strategic collaboration with the AP Government on rural digital health services to leverage Bupa’s expertise in digital health and elderly-care homes.

COO Sejpal, who noted Bupa serves 38 million customers across 190 countries, assured the minister that the proposals from Andhra Pradesh will be positively examined by their leadership team, given the company's strong presence in key markets like Australia, the UK, and Spain.

Academic collaboration sought with Australian universities

Minister Lokesh’s visit to the University of Melbourne resulted in a major push for sustainable skill-development programs. Engaging with Vice-Chancellor Prof. Emma Johnston and other senior leadership, the minister invited the No.1-ranked Australian university to partner with the Government of Andhra Pradesh in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cyber Security, and Internet of Things (IoT).

The discussions focused on collaboration in Quantum Technology Research and joint research initiatives in Renewable Energy, Agriculture, and Healthcare. Minister Lokesh specifically encouraged collaboration with Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University in AP for research on crop productivity, water management and sustainable agriculture, as well as cooperation in Digital Health solutions, Tele-medicine, Smart City planning and waste management.

Working on climate action

The minister also met with a delegation from the University of Tasmania (UTAS), which is globally ranked No. 1 in Climate Action. Here, he requested UTAS support in Curriculum Development for Pharmacy and Paramedical courses in Andhra Pradesh, aimed at aligning with strict Australian accreditation standards and integrating Digital Health Tools (AI, Tele-medicine).

Furthermore, he proposed joint research on rural healthcare and drinking-water challenges in AP’s tribal regions, to initiate student-faculty exchange programs and skill-certification programs for placements in Australia.

Boosting tourism and sports

Minister Lokesh’s meeting with Victoria’s Minister for Environment, Tourism and Sports, Steve Dimopoulos, laid the groundwork for enhanced collaboration in tourism and sports. Citing Victoria’s success in heritage and environmental tourism, Lokesh sought support for heritage tourism branding in Andhra Pradesh, similar to Victoria’s iconic Great Ocean Road.

In a move to address climate challenges, the Minister requested joint R&D initiatives on coastal resilience using climate technologies, referencing Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay project, a critical step for AP’s 1,053-km-long coastline.