Minister for IT and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, has sought the active cooperation of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in advancing digital governance in Andhra Pradesh.
Currently visiting the United States, Lokesh has been engaging with top executives from leading IT firms. As part of his mission, he met Nadella at Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington, and extended an invitation to visit Andhra Pradesh. Nadella has personal ties to the state, with his father having served in the Andhra Pradesh cadre of the IAS in various key positions.
During the meeting, Nadella highlighted Microsoft’s achievements as a global leader in software, cloud computing, and enterprise technology. He mentioned that as of October 2024, Microsoft’s market cap stood at $3.1 trillion, and the company posted a record profit of $211.9 million in the 2023 fiscal year.
Lokesh recalled how Hyderabad emerged as an IT hub under the leadership of Chandrababu Naidu, then Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh. He stated that Naidu, now in his fourth term as Chief Minister, is determined to transform Andhra Pradesh into an IT capital.
“We are setting up new IT hubs and innovation parks, and we look forward to Microsoft’s support in taking these hubs to a global level,” Lokesh said.
Expressing confidence that Andhra Pradesh will soon become a regional hub for cloud infrastructure and data centres, Lokesh underscored the state’s strong academic record in producing talented IT and engineering professionals. He urged Microsoft to leverage these resources and focus on nurturing local talent.
Lokesh also emphasised the potential of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into agriculture, stating that such efforts could bring significant reforms to the sector. He sought Microsoft’s support in developing the state’s digital governance system and smart city programmes, noting that the government aims to make Amaravati the AI capital of India. “As part of this vision, we will establish an AI University in Amaravati,” he added.
In response, Nadella assured full cooperation in promoting Andhra Pradesh as an AI capital and supporting its digital transformation efforts. Kartikeya Mishra and Saikanth Varma, members of the state’s delegation, were also present at the meeting.
========
