Pawan Kalyan pitches Andhra Pradesh as trusted global hub; Lokesh unveils red-carpet framework at 31st Vizag CII Summit

Glimpses from CII Partnership Summit: Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and K Rammohan Naidu, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan, IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh and other dignitaries during their visit to the Andhra Pavilion in the 31st CII Partnership Summit being held under the theme “Navigating Changing Global Dynamics with Trade, Technology, Trust and Thought Leadership” in Visakhapatnam on Thursday, November 12, 2026

Projecting Andhra Pradesh as a dynamic gateway for global capital, Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan and IT and Industries Minister Nara Lokesh rolled out an aggressive growth agenda at the inaugural session of the 31st Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam on Thursday (November 12, 2026), pitching the State as a secure, fast-paced corporate destination.

Setting the tone, Mr. Pawan Kalyan positioned the State as a reliable, investor-friendly hub backed by robust political stability and transparent governance. Commending Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s long-term vision and Mr. Lokesh’s aggressive industrial outreach, Mr. Pawan Kalyan urged global investors to leverage the State’s expansive coastal infrastructure and green energy potential.

Striking a personal chord before addressing the delegates, the Deputy Chief Minister joined traditional folk artistes in beating drums and interacted warmly with venue sanitation workers, drawing widespread applause.

Taking the dais, Mr. Lokesh unveiled an ambitious picture of industrial transformation, announcing that the government has attracted ₹22.6 lakh crore in investment commitments since June 2024, with 73% of these projects already receiving regulatory clearances. Highlighting marquee investments—including Google’s upcoming AI hub in Visakhapatnam, which marks the largest FDI of its kind in India, and large-scale manufacturing ventures by LG Electronics and Premier Energies—Mr. Lokesh underscored the State’s strategic focus on speed, stability, and service.

Detailing the administration’s pro-business ethos, Mr. Lokesh assured investors of direct responsiveness, stating that bureaucratic red tape is being systematically dismantled through escrow-backed industrial incentives and an upcoming Investor Protection Act. He urged corporate leaders to move beyond setting up manufacturing units and relocate their primary corporate headquarters to Andhra Pradesh, citing superior quality of life, skilled talent pipelines, and seamless connectivity anchored by new ports and the Bhogapuram International Airport.