Nara Lokesh Outlines Vision for Visakhapatnam as Andhra Pradesh’s Economic Capital

At the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Infrastructure Summit, Andhra Pradesh’s Minister for Education, Information Technology, and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, unveiled ambitious plans to position Visakhapatnam as the state's economic capital and one of India's top five cities. He emphasized that a strategic roadmap has been devised to propel Andhra Pradesh to the forefront of the nation's development.

Lokesh pointed out that industrial growth had stagnated under the previous government’s watch but assured that the current TDP-led administration is prioritizing infrastructure development to rectify this. The minister also announced the acceleration of the Visakha-Chennai Industrial Corridor and reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering an environment conducive to rapid business growth.

Lokesh further revealed plans to transform Visakhapatnam into the world’s leading IT hub, anchored by the establishment of a world-class data center. North Andhra Pradesh, including Visakhapatnam, will see remarkable progress with the development of a pharma hub and the upcoming Bhogapuram international airport.

To support these efforts, new industrial, IT, and electronics policies will be rolled out, focused on fostering growth-friendly environments. The revival of the Economic Development Board under the guidance of a young IAS officer signals the state’s commitment to decentralized growth, spreading progress across all districts.

Highlighting the neglected state of basic infrastructure over the past five years, Lokesh pointed to the development of a petrochemical corridor in the Godavari districts as a sign of revitalization. He called on industrialists to partner with the government to achieve the target of creating 2 million jobs in Andhra Pradesh, driving forward the vision of "Vikasitha Andhra Pradesh."

Minister B.C. Janardhan Reddy, CII State Chairman V Murali Krishna, and GBS Raju of GMR Airports Business also addressed the summit, echoing the shared commitment to the state’s rapid industrialization.