Andhra Pradesh Aims to Become IT Hub, Says Nara Lokesh

Andhra Pradesh IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh has pledged to establish the state as a premier destination for the Information Technology (IT) industry in India. Speaking in the assembly, Lokesh expressed optimism about creating five lakh jobs in the IT sector within the next five years, contingent on the Centre’s forthcoming data policy.

Addressing questions from legislators Vamsikrishna Srinivas, Ganta Srinivas Rao, Vishnukumar Raju, and Eswara Rao regarding the development of the IT industry in Visakhapatnam, Lokesh announced that TCS would inaugurate its unit in the port city within three months. He also shared plans to identify land for an Infosys branch, aiming for operations to commence within six months.

Reflecting on Andhra Pradesh’s earlier achievements, Lokesh highlighted that 150 IT companies established themselves in the state between 2014 and 2019, creating jobs for 50,000 people. He noted the signing of an MoU with Adani for a data centre in Visakhapatnam and organizing an IT conclave to draw further investments.

However, he criticized the previous YSRCP government, accusing it of corruption and deterring potential investors. “Many companies, including Nixi and STBI, withdrew their plans to set up operations in Visakhapatnam due to unethical demands and lack of support,” Lokesh said.

Lokesh emphasized his efforts over the last five months to rebuild trust with IT giants, citing interactions with top executives during his recent US visit. He revealed that several data centres, which could have been in Visakhapatnam, relocated to Mumbai, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana due to the previous regime's policies.

Despite these setbacks, Lokesh is optimistic about the state’s potential. “Visakhapatnam could have been the data centre capital of India. Still, we are confident of attracting $100 billion in investments to Andhra Pradesh from the $300 billion allocated annually to this sector,” he stated.

He concluded by highlighting the state’s commitment to fostering an IT ecosystem while awaiting a national framework on data security, taxation, and data embassies. "We are ready to bring Andhra Pradesh back into the spotlight as a leading hub for IT and data industries," Lokesh said.