Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has made a strong pitch for the state’s future at the 31st CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam. Drawing on his experience in transforming Hyderabad into an IT destination, he expressed confidence that Andhra Pradesh could create another major economic success story through Amaravati and Visakhapatnam.
Naidu spoke about India’s growth potential and the importance of strong leadership. He also highlighted the role of technology, education and long-term planning in building a developed nation.
Modi Is Different From Other Prime Ministers: Chandrababu
Recalling his political experience since former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Chandrababu Naidu said he had seen several Prime Ministers over the years. However, he described Narendra Modi as different from his predecessors.
“I have seen many Prime Ministers. I have also been part of the process of selecting Prime Ministers since Indira Gandhi’s time. But Prime Minister Modi is different. He understands technology when we explain it to him,” Naidu said.
He also identified four major strengths that could drive India’s growth over the next two decades. These include the entrepreneurial spirit that emerged after economic reforms, India’s early advantage in information technology, its young population and strong leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Naidu expressed confidence that India’s growth story would be difficult to match.
“Nobody can beat India in the next 20 years. India will be unstoppable,” he said.
Amaravati Can Become a Major Economic Growth Centre
Explaining his vision for Amaravati, the Chief Minister recalled how Hyderabad changed after the development of HITEC City and other major infrastructure projects.
He said Hyderabad’s growth was not accidental. Planned investments in technology, roads, airports, and urban infrastructure supported it. The development of Cyberabad along with the Outer Ring Road and the Shamshabad airport helped the city expand its economic potential.
Naidu pointed out that land prices in the Hyderabad region had increased significantly after the development of HITEC City. Land that once cost around Rs 1 lakh per acre eventually reached values running into hundreds of crores in prime locations.
He compared this with Amaravati and said land prices that were once around Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh per acre had already increased to Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore in some areas.
He expressed confidence that values could reach Rs 50 crore to Rs 100 crore per acre in the future as the capital city develops.
According to Naidu, Amaravati is being planned as a world-class city with modern roads, government buildings and environmentally friendly infrastructure. He said the government wants to create a capital that stands out internationally.
India’s First Quantum Computer to Be Unveiled in Amaravati
Technology will be a major part of Amaravati’s development, Naidu said.
He announced that India’s first quantum computer would be unveiled in Amaravati on February 3, 2027. The state also aims to develop manufacturing capabilities for quantum computers and position Andhra Pradesh as an important centre for advanced technology.
The Chief Minister believes that investments in emerging technologies will give the state an advantage in the global economy.
He also stressed the importance of renewable energy and said the government was encouraging solar power to support the growth of data centres and other technology-based industries.
Visakhapatnam to Compete With Major Indian Cities
Naidu also presented an ambitious vision for Visakhapatnam. He said the government aims to transform the coastal city into a major technology and AI data centre hub.
The proposed Google AI data centre is expected to begin operations in Visakhapatnam by 2028. The Chief Minister said the state was creating a favourable environment for data centre investments.
Drawing a comparison with his earlier efforts to develop Hyderabad, Naidu recalled how people questioned the decision to promote Hyderabad as an IT destination when Bengaluru was already an established technology hub.
However, he said Hyderabad eventually emerged as a major IT centre.
Naidu challenged people to visit Visakhapatnam after another ten years and compare it with Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai.
He said Visakhapatnam already had an advantage in terms of its clean and green environment. His goal is to develop it into a city that can compete with the country’s leading metropolitan centres.
P4 Initiative Aims to Reduce Poverty
The Chief Minister also spoke about the government’s P4 initiative, which aims to reduce poverty and address economic inequality.
He explained that the government was moving beyond the traditional Public-Private Partnership model towards a People-Public-Private Partnership approach.
Under this initiative, financially stronger families and individuals will be encouraged to support underprivileged families. The objective is to ensure that economic growth reaches people at the bottom of society.
Naidu said development should not remain limited to individual families. People who have achieved financial success should also contribute to the progress of society.
He described the government’s broader vision as building a healthy, wealthy and happy state.
Referring to an O.P. Jindal University report, he said Andhra Pradesh ranked 13th in per capita income but stood second in the country in terms of living standards.
Education Is More Valuable Than Property
Naidu also highlighted the importance of education and skill development. He urged parents to invest in their children’s education instead of focusing only on leaving behind property.
“Educate your children, not just property. They can earn 10 or 100 times more,” he said.
Recalling his earlier initiatives, Naidu spoke about the expansion of engineering colleges in Andhra Pradesh. He said the number of engineering colleges increased from around 20 to 200 during his earlier tenure.
He also recalled introducing power sector reforms and said these measures helped Andhra Pradesh move towards becoming a power-surplus state within four years.
According to him, education and infrastructure are essential for creating long-term economic opportunities.
AI Will Create New Opportunities
Addressing concerns about artificial intelligence replacing jobs, Naidu said people should not view AI as a threat.
He pointed out that Indian professionals were already leading several major global technology companies. He described India’s young workforce and its ability to adapt to technological changes as major advantages.
Naidu believes AI will create new opportunities and open up alternative career paths rather than simply eliminate existing jobs.
He stressed that India must prepare its young population to take advantage of these changes through education and technological skills.
Chandrababu Recalls His Meeting With Bill Gates
The Chief Minister also shared an interesting account of his efforts to bring Microsoft to Hyderabad.
Recalling his interaction with Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Naidu said Gates was initially reluctant to meet political leaders. After several weeks of efforts, he was given just ten minutes for a meeting.
However, the discussion continued for 45 minutes. Naidu said he was able to convince Gates to consider Hyderabad for a Microsoft development centre.
He described the company’s arrival as a game-changing moment for Hyderabad’s IT growth.
The Chief Minister used this example to explain how leadership, persistence and an understanding of emerging technologies can transform a city.
His message at the CII Partnership Summit on day 2 was clear. Andhra Pradesh wants to build its next phase of growth around technology, infrastructure, education and global investments. While Amaravati is being positioned as a modern capital and an advanced technology destination, Visakhapatnam is expected to emerge as a major economic and AI hub.
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