From Our Correspondent
Visakhapatnam: The 30th CII Partnership Summit delivered a historic investment wave for Andhra Pradesh, with industrialists turning up in far greater numbers than anticipated, triggering what officials described as an “investment tsunami” along the Vizag coast.
Over three days, the state secured a staggering ₹13,25,716 crore in investment commitments through 613 MoUs, promising 16,31,188 jobs across 12 major sectors. The government, which initially expected around ₹10 lakh crore worth of agreements over two days, was compelled to extend MoU signings into a third day due to the overwhelming response from investors.
A Massive Confidence Boost for AP
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s presence proved to be the biggest draw, with over half of the total investments—₹7,63,210 crore through 123 MoUs—signed in his presence.
On Day 1, MoUs worth ₹3,65,304 crore were inked; on Day 2, agreements worth ₹3,49,476 crore followed; and on the final day, commitments totaling ₹48,430 crore were formalized.
Ministers, including IT & Industries Minister Nara Lokesh, facilitated an additional ₹5,62,506 crore worth of investments across 490 MoUs.
Energy Sector Dominates, Reliance Leads with 1 GW Data Centre
The energy sector emerged as the top magnet, accounting for ₹5,33,351 crore and over 2.66 lakh jobs. Reliance Industries made one of the most significant announcements, proposing a 1 GW AI Data Centre, reinforcing AP’s push to become a national technology hub.
The other major investment magnets were:
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Industries: ₹2,80,384 crore | 5,19,083 jobs
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Infrastructure: ₹2,01,758 crore | 3,06,649 jobs
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IT, Electronics & Communications: ₹1,59,467 crore | 2,96,315 jobs
Collectively, these four sectors alone contributed more than ₹12 lakh crore to the summit’s total commitments.
12 Sectors Attract Big Money
Across the summit, investments poured into 12 key sectors, including tourism, food processing, textiles, healthcare and education. Significant commitments include:
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Tourism: ₹21,036 crore | 1,05,804 jobs
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Food Processing: ₹13,008 crore | 47,390 jobs
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Urban Development: ₹4,944 crore
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Textiles: ₹4,490 crore
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Healthcare: ₹4,208 crore
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Education: ₹4,359 crore
Another ₹50,000 crore came from various other departments.
Bigger Than Forecast — 30% More than Expected
The state government had estimated that roughly ₹10 lakh crore would materialize at the summit. Instead, AP surpassed expectations by over 30%, signalling renewed trust in the state’s governance, policy stability and “speed of doing business.”
Officials attributed the surge to Naidu’s international outreach—particularly in Singapore, UAE and London—and the government’s aggressive ease-of-doing-business reforms, including fast-track clearances and policy assurances.
A Defining Moment for AP
With ₹13.25 lakh crore in commitments and over 16 lakh potential jobs, the Visakhapatnam summit stands as one of the largest investment events in India this year. The massive turnout of corporate leaders and the scale of commitments have positioned Andhra Pradesh as one of the country’s most promising investment destinations.
For the Naidu government, the summit is being hailed as a resounding validation of its early policy direction—and a powerful signal of AP’s return as a preferred hub for global and domestic investors.