Andhra: Nara Lokesh meets EAM Jaishankar, pushes for stronger diaspora engagement, skills mobility

New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh IT & HRD Minister Nara Lokesh on Monday met External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar in Delhi to push for stronger diaspora engagement, skills mobility, and responsible migration.

The move is aimed at positioning Andhra Pradesh as a frontrunner in India’s global workforce vision.

During the meeting, Minister Nara Lokesh took the opportunity to apprise the Union Minister about the state delegation’s recent visit to Singapore and the discussions held with officials. The AP IT Minister further apprised him of the possible collaboration opportunities and sought the Centre’s support for the same.

He also mentioned that Andhra Pradesh has a vibrant diaspora of over 3.5 million spread across 130 countries, including one million in the USA, 800,000 in Gulf nations, and 400,000 in Europe. Telugu people in the US have a per capita income of $126,000, far surpassing the American average of $70,000—a testament to their global success, the Minister said, noting the diaspora's accomplishments.

Minister Lokesh, during the discussions, also showcased Andhra Pradesh’s forward-looking initiatives to strengthen global skills and diaspora engagement.

These include forging skill development and institutional partnerships with countries such as Russia and Australia through “twinning of institutions” and joint training programs; the launch of the Naipunyam portal, a unified digital platform connecting job seekers, employers, and trainers to ensure transparency in the labour market; and projects under MMPA with Japan, Korea, and Taiwan to open overseas job avenues for youth while channeling back investments and technical expertise.

The state also sought greater diaspora engagement, urging the global Telugu community to step up investment and knowledge transfer in IT, innovation, and higher education.

Further, the HRD Minister reiterated Andhra Pradesh’s commitment to data-sharing and collaboration with the Centre to track labour market trends and overseas employment opportunities for its workforce.

He also sought MEA’s support in extending welfare and protection schemes for migrant workers from Andhra Pradesh, including expanded access to insurance schemes like Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana.

The Minister further requested the Centre’s assistance for hosting global skills conclaves in Andhra Pradesh, fast-tracking overseas training infrastructure, and expanding pre-departure orientation for migrant youth.

The Minister also pitched for Central support in setting up an AI Centre of Excellence and a Data City in Visakhapatnam, projecting the city as a future technology hub.