Russian Firms Invited to Invest in AP’s Chemicals, Semiconductor and Smart Mobility Sectors

Vijayawada: Education Minister Nara Lokesh has intensified his efforts in Moscow to attract Russian investments into the state's industrial, semiconductor and infrastructure sectors.

During the second day of his visit there, Lokesh held high-level meetings with leading Russian companies and evinced interest in the advanced urban transport systems there.

During discussions with Ruschem Group deputy CEO Ilya Kosyh and international business head Darya Ashanina, Lokesh invited the company to establish a state-of-the-art chemical processing plant in the Visakhapatnam–Kakinada petroleum, chemical and petrochemical investment region. He also sought the firm's participation in developing bulk chemical storage facilities, waterfront berths and port-based chemical logistics hubs along India’s eastern coast.

The minister proposed the setting up of a collaborative polymer applications and materials science research centre and a low-carbon chemicals manufacturing unit linked to India’s renewable energy corridors. Ruschem officials said the company was expanding its presence in India through specialised ventures and chemical distribution networks and would examine the AP government’s proposals.

Nara Lokesh also met executives of Element Group, one of Russia’s leading semiconductor companies, headed by Khazov Oleg. He urged the company to establish an electronic component assembly unit in Visakhapatnam for manufacturing secure RFID tags and smart-card microchips required for India’s growing digital transport and banking sectors.

The minister proposed a silicon carbide and power semiconductor manufacturing facility in Nellore to cater to the expanding electric vehicle and solar converter markets. He also sought the expansion of robotics and automation services at Sri City in Tirupati district and the creation of a microelectronics design centre in Visakhapatnam’s high-tech corridor.

He requested the company to explore supplying microcontrollers, data infrastructure and hardware for the Amaravati Smart City project. Element Group representatives expressed interest and said the proposals would be considered positively after consultations with the company’s senior management.

Lokesh visited the Moscow advanced transport development center, where he was received by senior officials of Moscow’s transport administration. The minister reviewed the city’s integrated transport ecosystem, including digital ticketing systems, traffic management technologies and mobility services.

Describing the facility as one of the world’s fastest-evolving public transport networks, Lokesh noted that metro rail, buses, electric trains, bike-sharing services and scooters had been integrated into a single digital platform accessible through one mobile application. He praised Moscow’s AI-enabled traffic control and transport security systems and said India should develop similar technology-driven mobility infrastructure to improve urban transport efficiency and public convenience.