From Our Correspondent
MoUs Worth ₹10 Lakh Crore Expected in this edition
Visakhapatnam: The port city of Visakhapatnam is all set to host the prestigious two-day Partnership Summit, which the Andhra Pradesh government sees as a major milestone in driving the state’s next phase of economic growth. Officials estimate that the summit could witness the signing of MoUs worth over ₹10 lakh crore, making it one of the biggest investment events in the state’s history.
Delegates from more than 50 countries, including ministers, diplomats, and business leaders from the UK, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Bahrain, Qatar, New Zealand, and Singapore, are expected to attend. Over 3,000 participants, including global CXOs, have confirmed their presence. The event will feature 45 thematic sessions, covering areas such as trade, industry, sustainability, innovation, and inclusion.
A day before the summit, the government signed ₹3.65 lakh crore worth of MoUs in the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, reflecting the growing investor confidence in Andhra Pradesh’s pro-business policies.
Vice President to Inaugurate Summit
The 30th CII Partnership Summit will be formally inaugurated at 9:15 a.m. on Friday by Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal attending the launch of the Andhra Pradesh Pavilion. Leading industrialists Yusuff Ali, Baba Kalyani, and Karan Adani will also be among the distinguished guests.
The two-day summit will feature high-level discussions on Trade, Future of Industrialisation, Sustainability and Climate Action, Technology and Innovation, Growth and Inclusion, and Geo-Economic Frameworks. Chief Minister Naidu will hold one-on-one meetings with global industry leaders to showcase the state’s investment opportunities and announce new projects.
The government also plans to launch and lay foundation stones for several major projects, including the Drone City and Space City, which will be inaugurated virtually by the Chief Minister.
MoU for Direct Vijayawada–Singapore Flights
One of the major highlights of the summit will be the signing of an MoU between the Andhra Pradesh government and Singapore representatives to launch direct flight services between Vijayawada and Singapore.
Following the inauguration, Chief Minister Naidu will meet Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki and later address the “AI for Viksit Bharat” session, where he will explain how artificial intelligence can accelerate Andhra Pradesh’s economic growth. He will also meet representatives of BPCL, Goenka Group, and SBF Industries for investment discussions.
Lokesh’s Investor Engagements
Minister for IT and Industries Nara Lokesh will play a key role in the summit, holding a series of meetings with industry leaders from Action Tesa, Blue Jet Healthcare, James Cook University, and Dixon Technologies. He will also participate in the session on “Investors’ Perspective on Growth, Opportunity, and Enablement”, followed by meetings with Singapore’s National Security Minister K. Shanmugam and Union Minister Piyush Goyal.
Later in the day, Lokesh will attend the signing ceremony of the Vijayawada–Singapore flight MoU, and continue discussions with investors from SAEL Industries, SiliconGen Fab Lab, Bharat Biotech, and Kirloskar Group, inviting them to invest in Andhra Pradesh. He will also attend a session on the expansion of IT and Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in tier-two cities.
The summit will conclude with cultural programmes showcasing Andhra Pradesh’s heritage and spirit of innovation, marking a new phase in the state’s journey toward becoming India’s premier investment destination.