Become Partners In AP's Progress: Naidu Tells Corporate Leaders

Vijayawada:Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has urged global corporate leaders to invest in Andhra Pradesh and become integral partners in the state’s progress.

On the fourth and final day of his visit to Singapore, the Chief Minister held a series of high-level meetings with senior representatives from leading multinational corporations. AP, he said, “is richly endowed with resources and offers immense opportunities for business growth and development.”

Naidu outlined the state government’s comprehensive strategic development plans, with focus on various regions. These plans were shared extensively with the visiting business leaders.

The CM held discussions mainly with representatives from CapitaLand Investment (India), Mandai Wildlife Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and Temasek Holdings to explore significant investment opportunities across multiple sectors.

In his conversations with CapitaLand Investment (India), Sanjeev Das Gupta and Gaurishankar Nagabhushan, the dialogue centered on real estate projects, industrial parks, data centres, green buildings and digital townships. Naidu emphasised the potential to develop IT parks and plug-and-play workstations in cities like Amaravati, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati.

The Chief Minister also detailed plans to leverage the state’s ports and airports for economic growth and introduced the Hyderabad-Bengaluru-Amaravati-Chennai airport economic corridor. The CapitaLand representatives informed the CM that they have invested in approximately 30-35 per cent of IT parks in Hyderabad. They expressed strong interest in further investments across AP’s real estate and industrial sectors.

In a meeting with Mandai Wildlife Group, Naidu discussed initiatives related to wildlife parks, eco-tourism, biodiversity complexes and wildlife experience zones.

He proposed collaboration to boost eco-tourism in areas such as Visakhapatnam and Tirupati — a suggestion welcomed by CEO Mike Barclay. The potential to replicate Singapore’s Garden City and zoo park models in Andhra Pradesh was also explored.

Naidu shared plans to develop ‘Dolphin City’ in Visakhapatnam and a Botanical Garden in Amaravati. He expressed his desire for a partnership with Mandai Wildlife Group on these projects. CEO Barclay expressed readiness to invest in these and other sectors within the state.

Naidu engaged in detailed discussions with Rajeev Kannan, managing executive officer of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), focusing on investment opportunities in industry, infrastructure, green energy and urban development. He outlined strategic projects such as the Drone City, defence and civil aerospace corridor planned for the Lepakshi and Orvakallu regions. The talks also covered financing options for these projects.

The CM sought SMBC’s support for green energy initiatives and the development of industrial corridors, to which Kannan expressed keen interest in infrastructure lending and clean energy investments.

In a meeting with Dinesh Khanna, joint head of portfolio development and corporate strategy at Temasek Holdings, Naidu sought support for the growth of MSMEs in Andhra Pradesh. Temasek Holdings showed willingness to partner with the state government in promoting MSME development.

The Chief Minister underscored the value of collaboration with the state industrial infrastructure corporation (APIIC) to accelerate progress. Discussions also covered the potential for joint venture projects across diverse sectors. Naidu highlighted the wide-ranging opportunities available in AP across green energy, food processing, healthcare, technology and sustainable infrastructure. Temasek Holdings expressed a willingness to explore signing Memoranda of Understandings (MOUs) in these areas.

The meetings were attended by ministers P. Narayana, T.G. Bharat and senior AP government officials.