WEF: CM Naidu meets Indian Embassy officials in Zurich to boost Swiss investments

Zurich, Switzerland: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has sought the support of the Indian Embassy in Switzerland to facilitate greater Swiss investments in Andhra Pradesh.

He also asserted that the State is fully prepared with a skilled workforce and progressive industrial policies to meet global industry demands.

The Chief Minister met Mridul Kumar, India’s Ambassador to Switzerland, soon after arriving in Zurich on the first day of his four-day visit to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meetings.

Appeal for Swiss investments

During the meeting, CM Naidu highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s readiness to host Swiss companies across multiple sectors.

Responding to the Ambassador’s observations that Switzerland leads in pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, heavy machinery, electronics, rail components, textiles and research, the Chief Minister outlined strong investment opportunities in pharma and medical equipment manufacturing in Andhra Pradesh.

He informed the Ambassador that the State has introduced 25 new industrial policies aimed at accelerating growth, with a special focus on Artificial Intelligence and quantum technologies.

Emphasising human capital, he said skill development initiatives have been strengthened to align youth capabilities with global industry requirements.

Ambassador praises AP’s investment push

Ambassador Mridul Kumar lauded Chandrababu Naidu’s proactive approach, noting that Andhra Pradesh attracted investments worth nearly Rs 2 lakh crore following the Chief Minister’s engagements at the previous Davos WEF session.

He also cited Liechtenstein as an example of rapid economic growth driven by Artificial Intelligence and said a delegation from the country was participating in the current WEF meet.

The Chief Minister stated that he plans to hold discussions with the Liechtenstein delegation during the forum.

Focus on skills and emerging technologies

HR and Skill Development Minister Nara Lokesh briefed the Ambassador on Andhra Pradesh’s large-scale skill development programmes and sought cooperation in attracting Swiss investments.

He said the State has built strong manpower capabilities and has also made significant strides in the drone sector, with systems now capable of carrying payloads of up to 100 kg.

Minister TG Venkatesh was also present during the meeting.

Grand welcome by Telugu diaspora

Earlier, Chandrababu Naidu received a warm and grand welcome at Zurich airport, where Telugu people from over 20 countries gathered to greet him. The Chief Minister personally interacted with members of the diaspora who had arrived to welcome him.

He was also greeted by several global leaders, including Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and World Bank Group President Ajay Banga.

The Chief Minister’s engagements in Zurich underline Andhra Pradesh’s renewed push to position itself as a global investment destination, leveraging policy reforms, skilled manpower and emerging technologies.