Andhra targets $1 trillion investments, says Lokesh ahead of CII Summit

New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh has set an ambitious goal of attracting one trillion dollars in global and domestic investments, said Nara Lokesh, Minister for Education and Information Technology, Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Addressing an international press conference in New Delhi ahead of the CII Partnership Summit to be held in Visakhapatnam on November 14–15, the minister outlined the state’s robust investment climate, governance reforms and its youth-led development framework.

$120 billion investments in 16 months

Lokesh noted that Andhra Pradesh has already attracted $120 billion in investments over the past 16 months — a performance powered by stability, speed and the state’s investor‑first approach. “These are not symbolic MoUs. They represent real, on-ground projects that are creating employment and transforming regional economies,” he said.

Rapid investment growth and employment

Focus highlighting Andhra Pradesh’s employment‑driven development strategy, Lokesh stated, “Our goal is to create two million jobs over five years — not just as a target, but as a commitment to our youth. Every policy is designed to fuel job creation.”

He pointed to marquee investments that underscore growing global confidence in Andhra Pradesh:

- ArcelorMittal, India’s largest steel producer, chose Andhra Pradesh after a single virtual meeting.

- Google selected Visakhapatnam for its largest foreign direct investment in India — the Google Data City.

- BPCL is establishing a 1 lakh crore rupee refinery project.

- NTPC is developing a 1.65 lakh crore rupee green hydrogen hub.

- Five of India’s top ten solar manufacturing companies have selected Andhra Pradesh as their base.

Driving growth through speed of doing business

Lokesh emphasised that Andhra Pradesh’s success is driven by a new model — the ‘Speed of Doing Business.’

“In today’s economy, agility is everything. Even a month’s delay can alter an entire investment plan. We ensure projects move from intent to implementation at record pace,” he said.

This framework has attracted major firms such as TCS and Cognizant, reinforcing AP’s appeal across IT, manufacturing, hospitality and tourism. Andhra Pradesh, one of the first Indian states to officially recognise tourism as an industry, aims to add 50,000 hotel rooms in the next three years.

‘Strong governance and visionary leadership’

Outlining why investors should choose Andhra Pradesh, Lokesh said: “First, our speed and regulatory efficiency; second, experienced and visionary leadership under Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu; and third, excellence in governance.”

He added, “While several states boast double-engine governments, Andhra Pradesh operates as a double‑engine bullet‑train government — under the NAMO leadership of Naidu and Modi. Aligned with India’s Viksit Bharat vision, we aim to transform Andhra Pradesh into a 2.4 trillion‑dollar economy by 2047.”

CII Partnership Summit: A global business platform

The upcoming CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam will serve as an international platform for collaboration among investors, industry leaders, and policymakers. Discussions will explore emerging opportunities in quantum technologies, Artificial Intelligence and materials science.

The two‑day summit will feature 48 sessions, including a plenary, 27 technical discussions and 11 state‑specific forums. More than 300 delegates from 45 countries, including representatives from G20 member nations and 12 international organisations, are expected to participate.

During the summit, 410 investment agreements worth 120 billion dollars will be formalised, generating approximately 750,000 employment opportunities. Additionally, groundbreaking ceremonies for projects valued at 2.7 lakh crore rupees will be conducted.

Vision for a trillion-dollar Andhra Pradesh