Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu highlighted the state’s potential as a destination for cutting-edge technology, green energy, and infrastructure during his visit to Davos on Wednesday. He met with global industry leaders to pitch Andhra Pradesh as a hub for innovation and sustainable growth.
In a meeting with Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian, the Chief Minister proposed establishing a design center in Visakhapatnam to develop chips used in servers. He also invited Google Cloud to set up a manufacturing unit in the state to integrate its server supply chain and position Andhra Pradesh as the headquarters for server maintenance services. The state government assured complete support for these initiatives.
Google Cloud, the world’s third-largest cloud provider, has already set up cloud regions in Delhi and Mumbai and recently signed an MoU with Andhra Pradesh to develop a ‘Data City’ in Visakhapatnam. The partnership includes AI applications and skill development programs for local youth.
Naidu also held discussions with Petronas President and CEO Muhammad Taufik. The Malaysian oil and gas company plans to invest Rs 13,000 crore to Rs 15,000 crore in green hydrogen and ammonia plants in Kakinada, aiming to produce five million tonnes of green ammonia annually by 2030. Naidu invited Petronas to expand further by investing in Mulapeta, an emerging petrochemical hub.
During talks with PepsiCo executives, including CEO Eugene Willemsen and Foundation Chairman Stephen Kehoe, Naidu proposed making Visakhapatnam a Global Delivery Centre and Digital Hub. He also urged PepsiCo to expand its Global Business Services Centre to the city. To boost local farming, he suggested partnering with the Andhra Pradesh Community Natural Farming initiative and proposed setting up a Kurkure manufacturing unit to generate jobs and drive industrial growth.
The Chief Minister also met representatives from Bahrain’s Prime Minister’s Office and Mumtalakat, Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund. He highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s investor-friendly policies and invited investments across sectors, emphasising the state’s efficiency in facilitating business through its “Speed of Doing Business” approach.