From Our Correspondent
Zurich: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday issued a blunt call to Non-Resident Telugu (NRT) professionals to move beyond salaried jobs and step into entrepreneurship, asserting that innovation—not location—determines success.
Addressing a large Telugu Diaspora gathering in Zurich, attended by Telugu people from 20 countries, Naidu said the mindset of being “only employees” must change if the community is to play a transformative role in Andhra Pradesh’s economic resurgence. “With innovative ideas, becoming an entrepreneur is not difficult,” he said.
Naidu announced that the Andhra Pradesh government has created a ₹50 crore NRT corpus fund to encourage overseas Telugus to become job creators. He said mentorship, guidance and institutional support would be provided through the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub. The responsibility of nurturing NRT entrepreneurs has been entrusted to Ministers Nara Lokesh, TG Bharath, and Union Minister K Rammohan Naidu.
Inviting NRTs to invest in Andhra Pradesh, the Chief Minister said the state government is prepared to extend full cooperation—whether they choose to launch ventures abroad or return home. He suggested that in dual-income NRT households, at least one partner should consider entrepreneurship to create employment rather than merely seek it.
Naidu said Andhra Pradesh is already supporting students aspiring for overseas education by standing guarantee for education loans at a four per cent interest rate. He also announced that AP FIRST, described as the state’s largest research and innovation centre, will be set up in Tirupati to promote creativity and generate employment for youth.
Referring to India’s long-term trajectory, Naidu said the country is poised to become number one by 2047 and Andhra Pradesh must lead that journey domestically. He credited the NDA government for restoring Andhra Pradesh’s brand image over the last 18 months, claiming the state has attracted nearly 25 per cent of total investments coming into the country.
Citing marquee investments, Naidu said Google has come forward to establish an AI data centre in Visakhapatnam, ArcelorMittal group is planning a ₹1 lakh crore steel plant, and AM Green is investing $10 billion in a green ammonia project at Kakinada. The state, he said, is targeting ₹22 lakh crore in investments to generate jobs for 20 lakh youth, with a strategic focus on AI, quantum, space and drone technologies, alongside priority to healthcare through the proposed Sanjeevani health programme.
The Telugu Diaspora meet turned into a celebratory event, with families from across Europe and beyond raising slogans in support of Naidu and displaying placards. The Chief Minister also presented medals to children who won competitions organised as part of Sankranti festivities.
Indian Ambassador to Switzerland Mridul Kumar, APNRT Society president Vemuri Ravi Kumar, along with Union and state ministers, were present at the programme.