From Our Correspondent
London: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday held a roundtable meeting with top industrialists and university representatives in London, outlining the state’s emerging opportunities in logistics, inland waterways, rare mineral extraction, and advanced technologies.
Naidu said Andhra Pradesh holds “enormous potential” for inland water transport, which could enable low-cost and sustainable cargo movement. He urged global infrastructure consultancy Arup to collaborate with the state in developing integrated waterway logistics corridors, connecting key ports and industrial clusters.
The roundtable, part of Naidu’s ongoing investment outreach in the UK, was attended by prominent figures including James Kenny (Director, Global Affairs, Arup), Freddie Wooland (Executive Director, Altherin Tech), Poonam Gupta (CEO, PG Paper), Gaurav Marwaha (WMG University), Professor Radhaboya (Nanoscience, University of Manchester), Uday Nagaraju (Founder, AI Policy Labs), Ratna Garapati (President, Fluentgrid), and Paul Benton (British Health Industry Association).
Naidu showcased Andhra Pradesh’s strategic strengths — a robust logistics network, long coastline, and emerging technology ecosystem — and invited the participants to attend the upcoming CII Partnership Summit 2025 in Visakhapatnam on November 14–15, where over 400 MoUs worth nearly ₹10 lakh crore are expected to be inked.
Highlighting the government’s push for technology-led growth, Naidu said the Google Data Centre in Visakhapatnam will soon be operational, while an AI and Quantum Computing Centre in Amaravati is set to launch in January 2026. “Andhra Pradesh will be a hub for artificial intelligence adoption, quantum innovation, and digital governance,” he said.
The Chief Minister also called for academic collaboration in the extraction of rare earth minerals, emphasizing that universities can play a critical role in building sustainable models for exploration and global supply chain integration.
“Andhra Pradesh has a unique mix of natural resources and technological readiness. We are building an economy driven by innovation, efficiency, and inclusivity,” Naidu said, inviting British academia and industry to partner in the state’s growth story.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Naidu wrote:
“At the CII Roundtable in London today, I had the opportunity to interact with leaders from diverse sectors, from construction to education. We discussed emerging opportunities in Andhra Pradesh and potential areas of collaboration. I also extended a warm invitation to them to join us at the CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam on November 14–15, to further explore collaboration opportunities in our State.”
Senior officials from various state departments accompanied the Chief Minister at the meeting.