Andhra Pradesh’s Education, IT, and Electronics Minister Mr Nara Lokesh who is on a 5-day visit to Australia had an eventful second day today which saw him meeting senior representatives of universities, public training institutions and also senior executives of top-notch companies.

At the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Minister Lokesh met with senior executives and researchers, exploring joint degree programs, student exchanges, and skills development initiatives—particularly in the fields of STEM, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Renewable Energy.

He called for collaborative research between Andhra Pradesh universities and UNSW to tackle challenges in sustainable agriculture and water management and sought UNSW’s support to establish innovation hubs in AP.

He also advocated for partnerships in public health, telemedicine, smart cities, and effective, data-driven public policy and governance.

UNSW leaders highlighted the institution’s global stature—placed among the world’s top 50 universities—and its track record in pioneering solar-powered vehicles, quantum computing, and medical breakthroughs.

UNSW expressed readiness to partner further with Andhra Pradesh in joint research, technology transfer, and student engagement, having already established links with leading Indian institutions and tech hubs.

Skill Development Partnerships

In addition, Minister Lokesh visited the TAFE NSW Ultimo Campus, Australia’s largest public vocational training institution, and held talks with Australia’s Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles.

The discussion focused on accelerating collaboration between AP and TAFE NSW on curricula design, teacher training, student exchange, and credit transfer programs.

Mr Lokesh invited TAFE and the Australian government to the Partnership Summit and requested inclusion of AP skill leaders in the DFAT’s Special Visitors Program.

He proposed joint Centers of Excellence in Andhra Pradesh’s priority sectors, and new Skill Hubs or international campuses within AP’s industrial corridors.

The Minister urged TAFE NSW and local institutions to develop high-demand training programs in IT, hospitality, healthcare, and construction, boost faculty development, and support pathways for AP students to earn TAFE credentials locally, increasing their prospects for global education and employment.

Lokesh advocated for more training and empowerment programs for women in sectors critical to AP’s economic and social progress.

Meeting with MNCs

In a high-level meeting with leading Australian business executives—including representatives from HSBC, Amazon, Cisco, EY, GrainCorp, HCL, KPMG, Mastercard, and key universities—Minister Lokesh outlined Andhra Pradesh’s robust, investor-friendly environment under Chief Minister Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu.

He shared that more than Rs 10 lakh crore in investments have been attracted in just 16 months, crediting the state’s “speed-of-doing-business” approach.

Highlighting Visakhapatnam’s rapid emergence as a data and industrial hub, Minister Lokesh invited business leaders to the CII Partnership Summit 2025 in Visakhapatnam this November, emphasizing AP’s world-class infrastructure, 1,051 km of coastline, and welcoming policies for new investments.

“Once you sign an MoU with Andhra Pradesh, it’s no longer just your project—it’s ours as well. We provide hand-holding and expedited approvals at every stage,” Lokesh assured.

Citing landmark projects like the Google Data Centre (India’s largest FDI in the sector) and the ArcelorMittal steel plant, both completed at record speed, Lokesh stressed that Andhra Pradesh is committed to transparent, accountable, and accelerated growth.

He noted that proactive project management—down to daily WhatsApp updates involving ministers—ensures seamless execution for investors.

Roadshow in Sydney

Addressing the CII Partnership Summit Roadshow in Sydney, Minister Lokesh underlined why Andhra Pradesh is the preferred destination for global investors—highlighting the state’s experienced, visionary leadership, business-friendly reforms, young talent, and strong execution track record.

He referenced Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s historic role in developing Hyderabad and stressed AP’s ambition to become a $2.4 trillion economy, with Visakhapatnam as a trillion-dollar economic corridor.

Lokesh called on industry leaders to visit Andhra Pradesh, see the state’s energy and opportunity firsthand, and join AP’s journey to create 2 million jobs in five years.

“When Indian states actively compete for investments, India wins. This is the new India, rapidly reforming and rising to meet its $30 trillion ambition under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership” said the minister.