CII Summit: 410 Investment Agreements Worth 120 Billion Dollars Expected

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh has set an ambitious goal of attracting one trillion dollars in global and domestic investments, education and IT minister Nara Lokesh announced here on Wednesday.

Addressing the global media in New Delhi on Wednesday ahead of the CII partnership summit in Visakhapatnam on Nov 14–15, the minister outlined the state’s robust investment climate, governance reforms and its youth-led development framework.

Lokesh noted that AP has already attracted 120 billion dollars in investments over the past 16 months -- a performance powered by governance stability, speed and the state’s investor‑first approach. “These are not symbolic MoUs. They represent real, on-ground projects that are creating employment and transforming regional economies,” he said.

He explained, “During the CII summit, 410 investment agreements worth $120 billion will be formalised, generating approximately 750,000 employment opportunities. Additionally, groundbreaking ceremonies for projects valued at `2.7 lakh crore will be conducted.”

The two‑day summit would feature 48 sessions, including a plenary, 27 technical discussions and 11 state‑specific forums. More than 300 delegates from 45 countries, including representatives from G20 member nations and 12 international organisations, are expected to participate.

Highlighting AP’s employment‑driven development strategy, Lokesh stated, “Our goal is to create two million jobs over five years, not just as a target, but as a commitment to our youth. Every policy is designed to fuel job creation.”

The minister referred to marquee investments that underscore growing global confidence in Andhra Pradesh including ArcelorMittal, India’s largest steel producer, who chose Andhra Pradesh after a single virtual meeting. “Google selected Visakhapatnam for its largest foreign direct investment in India, the Google Data City. BPCL is establishing a 1 lakh crore rupee refinery project.”

NTPC, he said, is developing a `1.65 lakh crore green hydrogen hub. Five of India’s top ten solar manufacturing companies have selected AP as their base.

Lokesh said Andhra Pradesh’s success is driven by a new model, the Speed of Doing Business.

He said, “In today’s economy, agility is everything. Even a month’s delay can alter an entire investment plan. We ensure projects move from intent to implementation at a record pace. This framework has attracted major firms such as TCS and Cognizant, reinforcing AP’s appeal across IT, manufacturing, hospitality and tourism.”

Andhra Pradesh, one of the first Indian states to officially recognise tourism as an industry, aims to add 50,000 hotel rooms in the next three years,” he said.

Outlining why investors should choose Andhra Pradesh, Lokesh said, “First, our speed and regulatory efficiency; second, experienced and visionary leadership under chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu; and third, excellence in governance.”

He asserted, “While several states boast of having double-engine governments, Andhra Pradesh operates as a double‑engine bullet‑train government — under the NAMO leadership of Naidu and Modi. Aligned with India’s Viksit Bharat vision, we aim to transform Andhra Pradesh into a 2.4 trillion‑dollar economy by 2047.”

Concluding his address, Lokesh said, “Healthy competition among Indian states fuels national progress. Our CM’s vision is clear: to attract one trillion dollars in investments and position Andhra Pradesh as a global hub for sustainable industrial development. We are advancing this vision through a cluster‑based growth model to ensure balanced, inclusive progress.”