Proposed investments amounting to Rs.91,839 crore and the potential to create over 1.4 lakh jobs

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

In a significant push to attract large-scale investments and accelerate industrial growth, 91 major companies have expressed readiness to establish their units in Andhra Pradesh, with proposed investments amounting to Rs.91,839 crore and the potential to create over 1.4 lakh jobs. Minister for Education, IT, and Electronics Nara Lokesh directed the immediate appointment of nodal officers for each company to ensure time-bound approvals and smooth coordination.

During a high-level review meeting held at his Undavalli residence with officials from the IT, Electronics, and Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS) departments, Minister Lokesh emphasized the need for proactive governance to facilitate rapid industrial setup. “Each company must be assigned a dedicated nodal officer to fast-track permissions and address operational challenges without delay,” he instructed.

Lokesh reiterated the state government’s commitment to transforming Visakhapatnam into a leading IT hub, powered by next-generation technologies and infrastructure. He reviewed the status of companies showing interest in Andhra Pradesh’s IT and electronics sectors and highlighted the government’s long-term goal of generating 5 lakh jobs in these fields over the next five years.

He also instructed officials to expedite the disbursement of pending incentive payments to IT firms and to modernize video conferencing infrastructure across the state. Additionally, he called for fast-tracking the establishment of the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub.

On the digital front, Lokesh laid out an ambitious agenda to expand e-governance services. He directed that all government-to-citizen services be made available via WhatsApp Governance, aiming to simplify public access. The "Mana Mitra" app, which currently offers 317 services, is set to expand to 400 services by the end of the month.

Lokesh also called for reducing service delivery times across departments, particularly revenue services, and integrating all certificates with blockchain technology and QR codes for authentication. He ordered the integration of municipal and panchayat-level property tax data into WhatsApp, enabling real-time alerts and reminders for dues.

In preparation for the upcoming National e-Governance Conference to be held in Visakhapatnam on June 9 and 10, Lokesh emphasized the need for comprehensive arrangements. He directed officials to integrate department-specific data into a single AI-enabled web platform to streamline government operations and improve accessibility.

He also called for simplifying the "Ease of Doing Business" process and promoting single certification mechanisms for small and micro enterprises using QR code and blockchain technologies. Finally, Lokesh instructed that all Government Orders (GOs) and department apps be consolidated into a single unified platform for easy access by citizens and businesses alike. The meeting was attended by IT&C Secretary Katamneni Bhaskar, Special Secretary B. Sundar, Economic Development Board CEO Saikanth Varma, AP Technology Services MD Suryatej, and RTGS CEO Prakhar Jain, among others.