Historic Three-Day Event in Visakhapatnam Attracts Global Players, Promises Over 16 Lakh Jobs
Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh has emerged as India’s next major investment destination after securing commitments worth ₹13.25 lakh crore ($150 billion) during the CII Partnership Summit 2025, held in Visakhapatnam from November 14-15. The landmark event witnessed the signing of 613 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), expected to generate 16.31 lakh employment opportunities across multiple sectors.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu described the summit as a “super hit,” emphasizing that the state is well on track to achieve its ambitious target of becoming a $2.4 trillion economy by 2047. The event drew over 4,975 industrialists, including 640 international delegates from 45 countries, marking it as one of the largest investment showcases in Indian history.
Renewable Energy Dominates Investment Landscape
The renewable energy sector emerged as the clear winner, attracting a staggering ₹5.33 lakh crore in commitments—the largest share among all sectors. This green energy boom reflects global investors’ confidence in Andhra Pradesh’s potential as India’s sustainable energy hub.
Major Renewable Energy Commitments:
Brookfield Asset Management signed a landmark agreement to invest $12 billion (₹1.1 lakh crore) through its clean energy platform Evren, a joint venture with Axis Energy. The investment will focus on:
- Development of renewable energy projects totaling 13 GW capacity (6,500 MW solar + 6,500 MW wind)
- 6,500 MWh energy storage systems
- Clean energy-powered 3 GW data center
- Green hydrogen production (0.25 MTPA) and derivatives (1 MTPA)
- Solar module manufacturing and supply chain development
ReNew Energy Global Plc committed ₹82,000 crore ($9.3 billion) in total investments, including a fresh ₹60,000 crore ($6.7 billion) pledge announced during the summit. This adds to the company’s earlier commitment of ₹22,000 crore made in May 2025 for one of India’s largest hybrid renewable energy projects.
AM Green Group announced plans to establish multiple second-generation bio-refineries to produce cost-effective green hydrocarbons and 180 KTPA sustainable aviation fuel, requiring an investment of ₹10,000 crore ($1.13 billion).
Chief Minister Naidu outlined his vision for a comprehensive “green hydrogen valley” in the state, promoting hybrid solar-wind production, pumped storage units, and green hydrogen and ammonia manufacturing for both domestic use and exports.
Technology and Data Center Revolution
The technology sector witnessed transformative commitments, particularly in artificial intelligence and data center infrastructure, totaling ₹1.6 lakh crore in the IT, electronics, and communications sector.
Google’s Historic $15 Billion AI Hub
Google confirmed its $15 billion investment over five years (2026-2030) to establish India’s first AI Hub in Visakhapatnam. This represents Google’s largest investment in India and one of its biggest projects outside the United States.
Key Features of Google’s AI Hub:
- 1 GW gigawatt-scale data center campus across three locations (120 acres in Adivivaram, 200 acres in Tarluvada, 160 acres in Rambilli-Achyutapuram)
- India’s first truly gigawatt-scale data center
- New international subsea gateway with multiple subsea cable landings in Visakhapatnam
- Advanced fiber-optic network expansion
- Construction to begin early 2026, completion within 2.5 years
- Partnership with AdaniConneX and Airtel
Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, stated: “The Google AI hub in Visakhapatnam represents a landmark investment in India’s digital future. By delivering industry-leading AI infrastructure at scale, we are enabling businesses to innovate faster and creating meaningful opportunities for inclusive growth.”
Reliance Industries’ AI Data Center
Reliance Industries announced plans for a 1 GW Artificial Intelligence Data Center, featuring:
- Advanced GPUs, TPUs, and next-generation AI processors
- Twin facility to Reliance’s Jamnagar data center, forming Asia’s most powerful AI infrastructure grid
- Dedicated 6 GWp solar power project for clean energy supply
Champions Group’s Tech Park Investment
Champions Group signed agreements worth ₹540 crore for establishing:
- Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in Amaravati and Visakhapatnam
- Major data center investments near the upcoming Google campus
- Tech parks to support AI and digital transformation ecosystems
Sector-wise Investment Distribution
Beyond renewable energy and technology, substantial investments flowed into various sectors:
- Industrial Sector: ₹2.8 lakh crore
- Infrastructure: ₹2 lakh crore
- Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority: ₹48,711 crore
- Tourism: ₹21,036 crore
- Food Processing: ₹13,008 crore
- Urban Development: ₹4,944 crore
- Textiles: ₹4,490 crore
Strategic Infrastructure Developments
During the summit, Chief Minister Naidu virtually laid foundation stones for several transformative projects:
- 300-acre Drone City at Orvakal
- India’s first twin Space Cities in Sri Satya Sai and Tirupati districts
- World Economic Forum’s Centre for Frontier Technologies
International Partnerships and Connectivity
The state government signed a significant MoU with Singapore to launch:
- Direct Vijayawada-Singapore flight services
- Institutional capacity strengthening initiatives
Additional collaboration agreements were finalized with delegations from Bahrain, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, and Italy, focusing on automotive, machinery, fashion, food processing, agritech, and shipbuilding sectors.
Regional Development Strategy
Chief Minister Naidu emphasized the government’s commitment to decentralized development across Andhra Pradesh:
- Rayalaseema: Horticulture and industrial hub
- Coastal Andhra Pradesh: Aquaculture hub
- Visakhapatnam: AI and data center hub
- East-West Logistics Corridor: Comprehensive connectivity development
- One port every 50 kilometers along the 1,053-kilometer coastline
The state aims to develop seven anchor tourism hubs, 25 thematic circuits, and three national parks after granting industry status to the tourism sector.
Summit Highlights and Engagement
The three-day event featured:
- 41 business sessions with 91 speakers
- 16 business meetings with eight countries
- 24 bilateral meetings led by Chief Minister Naidu
- 48 total sessions including plenary, technical discussions, and state-specific forums
- Participation from G20 member nations and 12 international organizations
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan inaugurated the summit, calling it “the most opportune time to invest in Andhra Pradesh,” while Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted Visakhapatnam’s evolution into a global gateway for commerce.
Economic Impact and Vision
Chief Minister Naidu announced that over the past 17 months, the state government has attracted total investments exceeding ₹20 lakh crore. He projected that the state’s per capita income would double from the current ₹2.66 lakh within three years once these projects are grounded.
A dedicated “group of ministers” will monitor the implementation of investment proposals until projects are fully operational, ensuring accountability and swift execution.
Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General of CII, noted that the summit showcased impactful business-to-government, government-to-government, and business-to-business partnerships across critical sectors including health and education.
Competitive Federalism and Interstate Relations
Addressing questions about interstate competition—particularly regarding Hwaseung’s shift from Tamil Nadu and Google’s choice of Visakhapatnam over Karnataka—Chief Minister Naidu defended healthy competition among states.
“Competition is inevitable; only when states compete do people benefit. If everyone becomes complacent, how will investments grow? Cooperative federalism thrives on healthy competition,” Naidu stated.
Looking Ahead
The CII Partnership Summit 2025 has positioned Andhra Pradesh as a premier investment destination for global capital, sustainable energy, and cutting-edge technology. With comprehensive policy frameworks covering 24 sectors, streamlined approval processes promising clearances within 15 days, and a long-term vision aligned with India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 initiative, the state is poised for unprecedented growth.
As these massive investments materialize over the coming years, Andhra Pradesh is set to emerge as India’s gateway for AI innovation, renewable energy leadership, and advanced manufacturing—transforming not just the state’s economy but contributing significantly to India’s journey toward becoming the world’s leading economy.
