Speed of Doing Business Is AP's Hallmark: Lokesh
Decisions in AP, Lokesh said, are system-driven rather than personality-centric -- with legality, digitisation and accountability reinforcing speed. “Human resource readiness is integrated into investment planning to ensure skilled manpower becomes available in sync with capital inflows. A unified digital governance platform utilising real-time data enables the early identification of delays and swift course correction.”
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh is transitioning from an Ease of Doing Business model to “a sharper, results-oriented Speed of Doing Business model, with trust and execution velocity defining its investment proposition.”
This was stated by education and IT minister Nara Lokesh in Davos on Thursday.
Addressing the Andhra Pradesh state round table, styled as “The Fast Lane: Investing at the Speed of Growth”, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meet, the minister said the state aimed to be recognised as a “Day-Zero Ready State” by 2035, where investment decisions translate into on-ground execution within weeks.
Lokesh said, saving time has emerged as the biggest advantage for investors and a decisive edge for AP in a competitive global economy. The state has adopted a predictable, time-bound governance model that prioritises execution. Monthly meetings of the state investment promotion board (SIPB) reviewed project progress, resolved inter-departmental bottlenecks and approved new proposals, he said.
Decisions in AP, Lokesh said, are system-driven rather than personality-centric -- with legality, digitisation and accountability reinforcing speed. “Human resource readiness is integrated into investment planning to ensure skilled manpower becomes available in sync with capital inflows. A unified digital governance platform utilising real-time data enables the early identification of delays and swift course correction.”
Lokesh said, “As part of a sustained deregulation drive, the government has implemented over 50 reforms in the last 18 months, introduced deemed approvals for statutory timelines, repealed the NALA Act and initiated decriminalisation measures. A risk-based regulatory framework fast-tracks low-risk projects while ensuring deeper scrutiny for high-impact proposals, with early environmental and social safeguards strengthening sustainability.”
To ensure balanced development, he said, MSME parks are being established across all 175 assembly constituencies, anchored in local resources and sector-specific clusters such as agro-processing, marine products, textiles and electronics to create jobs in Tier-2 and Tier-3 regions. “Fast approvals, robust infrastructure and skilled manpower are Andhra Pradesh’s strengths. Policy stability and institutional credibility together are positioning the State as a trusted global investment destination.”
The round table was attended by Kearney senior partner Suketu Gandhi, Google Asia-Pacific president Sanjay Gupta, Cognizant Global CFO Jatin Dalal, and ReNew chairman and CEO Sumant Sinha, among others.
