AP Economic Development Board office opens in Amaravati

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Education, IT and Electronics Nara Lokesh on Tuesday set an ambitious target of creating 20 lakh jobs in the state, directing officials to prioritise employment generation as the government’s single-point agenda. He made these remarks while inaugurating the new office of the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB) at Mayuri Tech Park in Chinakakani near Mangalagiri.

After formally opening the office and reviewing the facilities, the minister held an interaction with APEDB officials, stressing that investment agreements must translate into tangible projects on the ground. “Our focus should not be limited to MoUs; investments must materialise and generate employment,” he asserted.

Lokesh recalled his ‘Yuvagalam’ padayatra, during which he had promised 20 lakh jobs across government and private sectors. Sharing a personal anecdote, he said a woman named Mohana, who sold snacks by the roadside in GD Nellore, had told him that instead of financial aid, she wanted job opportunities for her children, an interaction that reinforced the government’s commitment to employment-led growth.

Highlighting recent progress, the minister said the coalition government had attracted significant investments within 20 months, claiming that nearly 25% of total investments coming into India were secured by Andhra Pradesh. He commended the APEDB team and its CEO for their role in this achievement.

Lokesh noted that global giants such as Google, ArcelorMittal, Tata Consultancy Services and Cognizant have chosen Andhra Pradesh for expansion, and stressed the need to accelerate execution and job creation.

He urged officials to specialise in identified industrial clusters and focus on vertical and horizontal integration to strengthen the ecosystem. “Every project that has signed an agreement must be grounded. No investment should move out of the state,” he said, adding that project progress would be closely monitored.

The minister also announced that groundwork for a second steel city would begin later this month, while hinting at the possibility of expanding such industrial hubs further. Reiterating the government’s vision, Lokesh said officials must work with commitment and accountability to ensure Andhra Pradesh emerges as a leading investment and employment destination in the country. Senior officials and ministers, including representatives from industries and MSME departments, were present at the event.

“Our focus should not be limited to MoUs; investments must materialise and generate employment. We set an ambitious target of creating 20 lakh jobs in the state. Nearly 25% of total investments coming into India were secured by Andhra Pradesh.”

Nara Lokesh IT & Education Minister, Govt of AP