AP best destination for industries: Lokesh

Minister for Education and Information Technology Nara Lokesh stated on Monday that Andhra Pradesh boasts of the most favourable environment and offers superior incentives for establishing industries.
Speaking at the prestigious US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Summit held at a prominent hotel in New Delhi, Lokesh emphasised that “start-up” is not just a slogan for Andhra Pradesh but a transformative tool for governance. He praised the support provided by start-ups during the recent cyclonic storm that impacted the state and expressed confidence in achieving the target of providing 20 lakh jobs to the youth with active cooperation from the private sector.
The summit, chaired by Forum Chairman and JC-2 Ventures founder John Chambers, focused on the accelerated development of Andhra Pradesh in social and economic sectors. Lokesh informed the attendees that the Economic Development Board has been revived to expedite permissions for industries, and an advisory council comprising private sector experts has been established.
“We are now implementing a Single Point of Contact system for granting permissions to industries, with regular updates provided on a dedicated website regarding permissions and upcoming projects,” Lokesh said. He noted that for the first time in the country, the state is undertaking a skill census, gathering household and education data at the micro level.
Lokesh expressed optimism that the skill census will aid in achieving the goal of providing 20 lakh jobs to youth over the next five years. “Aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India, we are striving for a developed Andhra Pradesh by 2047,” he added.
Highlighting that Andhra Pradesh has the longest coastline in India, Lokesh mentioned that the state government aims to alleviate poverty by generating wealth. He emphasized that the state is progressing rapidly with its “Speed of Doing Business” initiative to facilitate industrial development, noting the crucial role of the Telugu community in the IT sector.
The IT Minister remarked that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has encouraged the establishment of numerous engineering colleges, contributing to Hyderabad’s rapid growth in the IT sector, particularly during the Y2K boom. “We have a strong workforce, and the port city of Visakhapatnam will be developed as a hub for IT, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices,” he stated.
Lokesh announced plans to develop Amaravati as a greenfield capital and a world-class city. He mentioned that prestigious institutes like SRM and VIT have already begun operations in Amaravati. Lokesh also highlighted the TDP-led NDA’s historic victory in the recent elections, securing 164 out of 175 seats with a 92% success rate.
“Of these, 88 MLAs, including 17 Ministers, are fresh faces. We have a solemn responsibility to meet the hopes and aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh,” Lokesh concluded at the summit.