Andhra Pradesh to Get Its First GCC Innovation Campus in Visakhapatnam: Lokesh

 VIJAYAWADA: IT minister Nara Lokesh has signed a pact with the ANSR, a global leader in establishing and managing Global Capability Centers (GCCs).

Signed during Lokesh’s roadshow in Bengaluru, the agreement with ANSR would facilitate investment in the Madhurawada IT cluster to build a state-of-the-art innovation campus. Over the next five years, the campus would generate more than 10,000 jobs, as per expectations of the state government.

ANSR specialises in the development of global capability centers (GCCs). Cumulatively, ASNR has helped establish 135 GCCs with around $2 billion in investments. ANSR is also expected to assist global companies in leveraging Andhra Pradesh's rich talent ecosystem.

Its CEO Lalit Ahuja said, “Visakhapatnam is poised to do wonders with its combination of world-class talent, strong infrastructure and visionary leadership. The innovation campus we are establishing here will become a preferred destination for leading global enterprises.”

Lokesh said the state's larger mission is to generate 2 million jobs over the next four years, some 5,00,000 of these in the IT and GCC sectors alone. “We’re beginning this journey from Visakhapatnam not just as a target but as a movement. Visakhapatnam is a unique blend of the best aspects of Bengaluru and Goa. Our vision is to transform it into not only a business-friendly city but also a magnet for the top talent,” he said.

The minister said, “Google is setting up its first and largest data center outside the US here. We are developing India’s largest data city in Visakhapatnam, with enhanced cloud-computing infrastructure, AI labs, analytics hubs and computing clusters. The city is ready for global digital leadership.”

“We are providing the necessary infrastructure to support this mission. GCCs play a pivotal role in our economic growth strategy. Attracting global players within a few months is our first major achievement. We’ve allocated land at highly subsidized rates (Rs 0.99 per acre) to companies like TCS and Cognizant.”

He said, “Our target is to bring the top 100 IT companies to Andhra Pradesh.”

Lokesh said the government is working on aligning academic curricula with GCC needs and strengthening areas such as cloud computing, AI, cyber security, and product engineering in collaboration with various companies to ensure that the state continues to generate capable human resources skilled enough to participate in the technology revolution.

"Under the Emerging Cities framework, we’re also developing smart infrastructure in cities like Amaravati, Tirupati, Anantapur and Kakinada. To improve air connectivity, the Bhogapuram international airport is under construction,” he said.

The event was also attended by state IT secretary Katamneni Bhaskar.