Andhra Pradesh sets out investment and technology-led growth plan
Andhra Pradesh is seeking to turn investment commitments into projects, jobs and long-term growth through a strategy focused on speed, service and stability, HRD Minister Nara Lokesh said at the Pan-IIT Summit. He highlighted sectoral clusters, technology-enabled governance, renewable energy and major proposed industrial developments.
Andhra Pradesh is working to become a developed State and contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat, Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh said at the Pan-IIT Summit 2026 in Vijayawada. Lokesh said the State’s strategy was based on “speed, service and stability”. He said the government was focusing on converting investment commitments into projects, jobs and sustained economic growth rather than stopping at the signing of memoranda of understanding.
The Minister said the State was pursuing leadership in several sectors while combining experienced leadership with a younger political team. He said nearly half of the MLAs and 17 of the 25 Ministers were first-time legislators or Ministers. Lokesh also described the use of artificial intelligence in policy-making.
He said the government was analysing earlier recruitment orders and court cases to identify weaknesses and reduce the risk of legal challenges. He cited the recruitment of nearly 16,000 teachers as an example. Among the projects he mentioned was a proposed Indian School of Agriculture at Madanapalle.
The institution is intended to support research, mechanisation, processing and market access across an integrated horticulture ecosystem. The government estimates that the ecosystem could attract nearly ₹1 lakh crore in investment, he said. Lokesh also referred to a proposed 17-million-tonne ArcelorMittal greenfield steel project and said a Google data-centre investment had strengthened Visakhapatnam’s position on the global technology map.
He credited cooperation between the State and Union governments with resolving regulatory and taxation issues. The State has identified 23 sectoral growth clusters, covering areas including horticulture, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, renewable energy, semiconductors, quantum technology, space and defence. Lokesh said Andhra Pradesh added about 4.8 GW of renewable-energy capacity in a year and aimed to rise from third to first place.
He urged the Pan-IIT community to help link the State with industry experts and alumni. He also announced plans for a 5,000-acre greenfield airport in Amaravati, which the government is developing as an urban, education and research hub.
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