Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) is boldly declaring itself a ‘startup state,’ eager for new business and fully committed to its promises, driven by its ‘Speed-of-Doing Business’ (SoDB) philosophy. IT & HRD Minister Nara Lokesh announced that the state has already secured an impressive $120 billion in investments over the past 15 months.
Lokesh made these remarks during a Q&A session at the Andhra Pradesh-United Kingdom Business Forum in London, which was expertly moderated by Harshul Asnani, President of European Business at Tech Mahindra.
He highlighted that no other Indian state has managed to attract such massive deals, citing the ArcelorMittal-Nippon Steel plant in Anakapalli district and the imminent arrival of IT giants like Google and India’s own TCS to Visakhapatnam.
Minister Lokesh credited Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s visionary leadership and unwavering dedication for successfully drawing investments across various sectors.
Emphasizing the state’s unique focus on SoDB, Lokesh pointed to concrete examples: the AM-NS steel plant, TCS’s expansion into Visakhapatnam, a significant upcoming investment from LG Electronics that is in the pipeline, and Reliance Industries Limited’s (RIL) compressed bio-gas (CBG) projects, alongside many other ventures.
Further developments include a massive 1-Gigawatt data center in Visakhapatnam and a thriving automotive ecosystem established around Kia Motors’ manufacturing plant in Anantapur district. Numerous other ambitious projects are being pursued with intense focus and drive.
Lokesh revealed a remarkable incentive: the state government allocated land to TCS in Visakhapatnam for an astonishing 99 paise per acre. This is part of the ‘Land Incentive for Tech Hub (LIFT) Policy,’ which offers the same incredibly low rate to the first one hundred eligible companies.
He also noted that 80,000 acres of barren land have been leased to RIL for cultivating Napier grass, which will serve as a raw material for compressed bio-gas production.
The Minister proudly stated that Andhra Pradesh is at the forefront of India’s Quantum Technology revolution, establishing a dedicated Quantum Valley in Amaravati. Additionally, a ‘Space City’ is taking shape in Tirupati district, with Skyroot Aerospace serving as a key partner, having been allotted 300 acres.
Significant attention is also being given to next-generation manufacturing, recognizing its foundational role in today’s economy. In response to increasing export tariffs, the state government is actively exploring market diversification strategies to overcome this ongoing challenge.
Acknowledging that ‘as humans, three out of ten decisions might go wrong,’ Lokesh affirmed the government’s commitment to listening and making necessary course corrections. He emphasized, ‘Once hands are shaken, a project becomes ours,’ passionately inviting aspiring entrepreneurs to discover and leverage Andhra Pradesh’s unique benefits.