From Our Correspondent
Davos: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday asserted that India has emerged as the safest and most preferred destination for foreign investments, as countries across the world increasingly look towards India amid its rapid economic transformation.
Inaugurating the India Lounge at the World Economic Forum (WEF), organised under the theme “Partner with India”, the Chief Minister called upon all stakeholders to work together as Team India, guided by the principle of “Nation First”. He said India is steadily transforming into a strong and resilient economy and expressed confidence that the country would become the world’s third-largest economy within the next two years, and the largest by 2047.
Naidu credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for effectively showcasing India’s strengths and capabilities on the global stage. While stressing the importance of wealth creation for development, he underlined that improving the quality of life of people was equally critical. He said the coalition government in Andhra Pradesh was focused on inclusive growth and enhancing living standards across sections.
Observing that the World Economic Forum offers a vital platform to understand global trends, the Chief Minister noted that green energy and digital infrastructure are currently at the centre of global investment focus. Union Ministers Prahlad Joshi and Rammohan Naidu, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Rameshbhai Sanghavi, Kerala Minister P. Rajeev, Uttar Pradesh Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, Telangana Ministers D. Sridhar Babu and Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, among others, attended the event.
Addressing a CII-hosted breakfast session on “The Andhra Pradesh Advantage”, Naidu said Andhra Pradesh is among the best destinations for investments in India and invited global investors to personally visit the state and assess its industry-friendly policies and speed of doing business. He claimed that Andhra Pradesh has been able to attract around 25 per cent of the country’s investments across key sectors.
He highlighted opportunities in green energy, technology, digital infrastructure and logistics, citing Google’s proposed investments in Visakhapatnam, a Green Ammonia plant in Kakinada, and efforts to develop a space city, ports, airports and highway connectivity. He also announced that drone ambulance services would be rolled out during the year and pointed out that the state has over 1,000 kilometres of coastline, offering strategic advantages.
Participating in discussions on One Family–One Entrepreneur, the Chief Minister said the initiative aims to ensure that development is broad-based and inclusive. He said MSMEs are being encouraged, women entrepreneurs promoted, and startups supported through the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub. He also spoke about the P-4 system to reduce poverty through targeted handholding.
Accompanied by Minister Nara Lokesh, Naidu held meetings with IBM Chairman Arvind Krishna, seeking training for 10 lakh youth in AI, quantum computing and cybersecurity, and with Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian regarding a proposed Google AI data centre in Visakhapatnam. He also interacted with World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Daren Tang on strengthening innovation, startups and patent ecosystems.
Several entrepreneurs at Davos lauded the One Family–One Entrepreneur initiative, stating that it has the potential to drive entrepreneurship and development, particularly in rural areas.