From Our Correspondent
Mumbai: Andhra Pradesh Minister for IT, Electronics, HRD and RTG Nara Lokesh on Monday held a series of high-powered meetings in Mumbai with global business leaders as part of the state’s investor outreach ahead of the CII Partnership Summit 2025, scheduled in Visakhapatnam on November 14–15.
In a key meeting, Lokesh met Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran and senior CEOs from Tata Power Renewables, IHCL, Tata Elxsi, Tata AutoComp, Tata Advanced Systems, Tata Electronics, Tata Chemicals, Tata Projects, and ST Telemedia Global Data Centres.
Lokesh invited Chandrasekaran to the inauguration of the TCS Vizag Development Centre later this month and urged the group to explore major collaborations across sectors — including EV charging networks, solar cell and module manufacturing, electronics OSAT facilities, aerospace and defence production, and AI-ready data centres in Andhra Pradesh. He also proposed a Centre of Excellence in emerging mobility technologies such as EVs, autonomous systems, and battery technologies.
The Minister later met Trafigura CEO (India) Sachin Gupta to discuss expanding the company’s footprint in energy trading, LNG logistics, and port-based infrastructure. Lokesh invited Trafigura to invest in cold chain facilities, LNG regasification terminals, and commodity trading hubs in Visakhapatnam and Kakinada, highlighting Andhra’s dominance in rice and shrimp exports.
He also met Rustomjee Group Chairman Boman Irani, urging the company to take up luxury township projects in the fast-developing Visakhapatnam region, and HP Inc. Managing Director Ipsita Das Gupta, proposing a 3D printing Centre of Excellence and PC and laptop assembly units under the state’s Electronics Manufacturing Policy 4.0. Lokesh assured full government support, including land and incentives for large-scale investments.
In another meeting with ESR Group executives Sadat Shah and Prakrut Mehta, Lokesh invited investments in industrial parks, logistics hubs, and data centre infrastructure, noting Andhra Pradesh’s new Plug-and-Play Industrial Parks Policy 4.0 and upcoming 1,000-acre mega industrial zones near Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, and Tirupati.
The Minister said Andhra Pradesh, under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership, is positioning itself as India’s most investor-friendly destination, offering ready infrastructure, port connectivity, and a transparent single-window policy.
About the CII Partnership Summit 2025
The 30th edition of the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) flagship Partnership Summit will be hosted in Visakhapatnam on November 14–15, 2025, with global participation from business leaders, investors, and policymakers.
The Summit will focus on manufacturing, digital infrastructure, clean energy, and resilient supply chains, showcasing Andhra Pradesh’s shovel-ready projects, sector-specific incentives, and policy reforms aimed at driving large-scale investments into the state.