Minister for IT and Electronics Nara Lokesh held a strategic meeting with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters on Tuesday, October 29, 2024. The visit is part of a week-long U.S. trip, which began on October 25, aimed at securing investment opportunities for Andhra Pradesh.
During his discussion with Nadella, Lokesh shared insights into the transformative IT growth witnessed by Hyderabad, attributing this success to the forward-thinking vision of his father, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Lokesh highlighted that Naidu is now focused on positioning Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) as a leader in the technology sector.
The Minister emphasized Andhra Pradesh’s potential to become a regional technology hub with the aid of Microsoft. According to Lokesh, the State not only has ample land and investor-friendly policies but also houses cloud infrastructure and data centers, making it a prime candidate for global firms seeking a base in the region. “A.P. has the land, infrastructure, and policies to make it a tech hub. Our vision is for Microsoft’s support to help develop IT hubs and innovation parks across the State,” he stated.
Nadella, describing Microsoft’s stronghold in software, cloud computing, and enterprise technology, cited the company’s $3.10 trillion market capitalization as a testament to its global influence. He acknowledged Andhra Pradesh’s potential and assured Lokesh that Microsoft would assess opportunities in A.P. to foster tech innovation, especially in adopting artificial intelligence (AI) for digital governance.
Following his meeting with Microsoft, Lokesh traveled to Apple’s headquarters in San Francisco to meet Priya Balasubramaniam, Apple’s vice president of operations. He extended a personal request for Apple to consider Andhra Pradesh as a future investment site, underscoring the State’s favorable infrastructure and investor-friendly policies.
Lokesh commended Balasubramaniam’s significant contributions to Apple’s manufacturing and supply chain operations and reassured her that Andhra Pradesh is well-prepared to support Apple’s expansion efforts. “A.P. stands ready to provide Apple with all the necessary resources and facilities to grow in the region,” Lokesh remarked.
Lokesh also proposed that Apple could leverage Andhra Pradesh’s existing four electronic manufacturing clusters as a possible site for its manufacturing unit. He pointed out that the State is strategically located with direct access to major markets, offering an attractive ecosystem for manufacturing and distribution. “With its world-class infrastructure, including advanced ports and highways, A.P. is ideal for logistics and supply chain management,” he added.
In California, Lokesh met Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen to discuss ways Adobe could contribute to making Andhra Pradesh a tech hub while focusing on enhancing digital skills among the youth.
