South Africa tour of India 2019
Andhra Pradesh Emerging as India’s Gateway for Global Investments, Says Minister Nara Lokesh in Australia
Andhra Pradesh is rapidly becoming a prime destination for global investors, said Nara Lokesh, Minister for Education, IT, and Electronics, during a Business Round Table meeting at the Indian Consulate in Brisbane, Australia. The event, attended by India’s Consul General Neeta M. Bhagotia and members of the Australia–India Business Council (AIBC), focused on strengthening trade and investment ties between India and Australia.
Lokesh highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s growing role in India’s exports to Australia, including refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, textiles, jewellery, and agricultural goods. He credited the Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), implemented in December 2022, for transforming bilateral trade — which nearly doubled from USD 12.2 billion in 2020–21 to USD 24.1 billion in 2024–25.
Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh has become one of India’s most business-friendly states, attracting over ₹10 lakh crore in investments within just 16 months. Lokesh spotlighted two landmark projects: Google’s ₹1.33 lakh crore AI Hub in Visakhapatnam, the largest-ever FDI in India, and ArcelorMittal’s ₹1.35 lakh crore steel plant near Anakapalli, set to be the country’s biggest.
“With these transformative developments, Andhra Pradesh has truly become India’s gateway for global investments,” Lokesh said. He invited Australian investors to attend the Partnership Summit 2025, to be held in Visakhapatnam on February 14–15, where the state will showcase its robust infrastructure, investor-friendly policies, and abundant growth opportunities.
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