Visakhapatnam to be global tech leader, asserts Lokesh at Digital Summit

Visakhapatnam: AP IT minister Nara Lokesh on Wednesday asserted that Visakhapatnam city will become a global leader in technology.

Addressing the two-day Andhra Pradesh Digital Technology Summit – 2025, organised by AP Digital Technology Industry in partnership with Software Technology Parks of India, Lokesh reminded the technocrats present at the summit about Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s Vision 2047, which intends to position Andhra Pradesh as a foremost hub for digital technology on a global scale.

In this regard, he reiterated the plans for a data centre in Visakhapatnam, the largest chemical park in north Andhra, entry of Tata Consultancy Services into the region, and establishment of the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub. He assured the assembled industrialists that the state government will provide them comprehensive support for their endeavours in the state.

The IT minister spoke about critical topics such as advancement of information technology across seven sectors, importance of deep technology and the essential role of start-ups. He pointed out that Chandrababu Naidu’s prior initiative of developing information technology in Hyderabad as part of Vision 2020 had been a great success. Likewise, he forecast that Vision 2047 initiative will transform Andhra Pradesh into a two trillion-dollar economy by 2047.

Lokesh said education in the state will be reformed and aligned with industry requirements, so that students could secure good employment opportunities. Higher education will be improved to ensure that Andhra Pradesh’s position improves from ninth to third in the National Institutional Ranking Framework.

He underlined that economic growth and social progress can be achieved through innovation and cultivating emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum computing, energy-efficient solutions and infrastructure technology.

The minister underlined that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is playing a critical role in advancement of AP with investments of approximately ₹2 lakh crore. In this context, he mentioned Kia automobile industry in Anantapur, proposed renewable energy hub in Kurnool, electronics manufacturing in Chittoor and Kadapa, and centres for aquaculture in Godavari districts. Visakhapatnam MP M Sribharat highlighted the economic challenges faced by Andhra Pradesh and the opportunity to transform crises into prospects for growth.

Noteworthy attendees at the summit included Digital Technology Network Forum chairman Sridhar Kosaraju, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission chairman B.V. Naidu, AloneOS co-founder C.P. Gurnani, Software Technology Parks of India director C. Kavita, and Information Technology Association of AP president Lakshmi Mukkavilli.