Nara Lokesh Reaffirms Government’s Stand Against Steel Plant Privatization, Announces Major IT Plans for Visakhapatnam

Andhra Pradesh's Education and IT Minister, Nara Lokesh, has reiterated the government's clear stance against the privatization of the steel plant, as outlined by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Speaking at the Infrastructure Summit organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, Lokesh condemned rumors circulating about the steel plant's future, calling them misleading.

In his speech, Lokesh shared the exciting news that Andhra Pradesh is set to receive significant investments over the next five years. He underscored the government’s strong focus on the IT sector in Visakhapatnam, assuring attendees that they are well aware of the challenges and actively working to resolve them. "Visakhapatnam will always be a top priority for us," Lokesh affirmed.

The minister revealed that a new IT policy is in the pipeline, reflecting the government's commitment to strengthening the sector. He emphasized that they are in direct talks with various industrial players to overcome any hurdles that could slow down progress. Lokesh confidently projected the creation of 2 million job opportunities, with more investments expected to pour into Visakhapatnam soon.

Lokesh also outlined plans for a field visit and a roadshow with industry leaders to promote the region. He stressed the importance of staying current with technology, advocating for servers to be refreshed every three years—a move he believes will drive job creation through the establishment of new data centers.

Optimistic about the future, Lokesh expressed confidence in delivering tangible improvements in the IT sector within the next 100 days, signaling a proactive and determined approach to boosting Visakhapatnam's industrial growth.