From Our Correspondent
Melbourne (Australia): Andhra Pradesh Minister for Education, IT and Electronics Nara Lokesh has said that the arrival of the Google Data Centre in Visakhapatnam was the result of 13 months of continuous effort, involving close coordination between the state and central governments.
Speaking at the CII Partnership Summit Roadshow organised by the Australia India Business Council (AIBC) in Melbourne, Lokesh invited Australian industrialists to participate in the Partnership Summit 2025, to be held in Visakhapatnam on November 14–15.
Outlining Andhra Pradesh’s investment success, Lokesh said the state had attracted ₹10 lakh crore in investments in just 16 months, calling it “only the beginning.” Andhra Pradesh now ranks second among India’s fastest-growing states, he said, adding that the goal is to make Visakhapatnam a trillion-dollar economic corridor.
Lokesh explained that the Google Data Centre project was not a coincidence but the outcome of persistent engagement. “When Google’s leadership first visited, I personally showed them the proposed site. Later, I met them at their headquarters to convince them why Andhra Pradesh was the right choice,” he said. The government then worked with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to make policy changes enabling India to emerge as a global data hub.
“After joining hands with us, your project doesn’t remain your project — it becomes our project,” Lokesh told investors, emphasizing Andhra’s “follow-through culture” where officials monitor project progress daily via dedicated communication channels.
He said Andhra Pradesh is advancing towards a $2.4 trillion economy by 2047, backed by strong leadership, supportive policies, and rapid industrialization. The state is focusing on 15 growth sectors, including automotive, renewables, electronics, steel, pharma, aqua, and quantum computing, with clusters being developed for each.
“Under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s visionary leadership, we don’t just sign MoUs — we ensure projects break ground,” Lokesh asserted.
He added that Andhra Pradesh’s mix of experienced governance, national alignment, and youthful leadership makes it one of India’s most promising investment destinations. “Visakhapatnam is a blend of Bengaluru’s innovation and Goa’s beauty. It is already India’s ninth-largest economic city and will soon be among the top three,” he said.
The event was attended by AIBC National Chair Deepak Raj Gupta, Consul General of India (Melbourne) Dr. Sushil Kumar, and CII Director Ashok, among others.