Chandrababu Naidu Targets $1 Trillion Investment Boom in Andhra With Google’s $15 Billion Push

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has laid out one of India’s most ambitious economic blueprints yet, predicting over $1 trillion in investments over the next decade as global tech giants, including Google, deepen their commitments to the southern state. Naidu, who once brought Microsoft to Hyderabad in the 1990s, says he now aims to replicate the state’s earlier success story after its 2014 bifurcation left Andhra without a capital. “What we achieved in 25 years, we can now do in 10,” Naidu said in an interview from Visakhapatnam.

Google’s recent announcement of a $15 billion investment to build data centers in Andhra Pradesh has given Naidu renewed momentum. The Chief Minister, who returned to power in 2024, described it as the start of a larger wave of technology-led growth, positioning Andhra as the next global hub for innovation, data, and energy. He has set a growth target of 15 percent annually—nearly double India’s national average—and says the path to revival lies in building world-class infrastructure, attracting technology firms, and leveraging the state’s coastal advantages.

A pioneering figure in India’s IT revolution, Naidu rose to prominence for transforming Hyderabad into “Cyberabad” during his earlier tenure as chief minister. He earned international recognition for encouraging Microsoft founder Bill Gates to invest in India and later welcoming then US President Bill Clinton for a landmark visit. Now, decades later, he believes Andhra Pradesh can evolve even faster by combining digital expansion with green energy, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. “We want quantum-speed growth,” he said. “From data centers and EVs to flying cars and drones, no sector is off the table.”

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Naidu credited India’s strengthening global profile and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic reforms for creating an ideal environment for foreign investment. The two leaders—now coalition partners—share a strong political alignment, which Naidu believes will help Andhra secure central support and investor confidence. “India is now indispensable to the global economy,” Naidu said, calling current trade challenges with the US “temporary setbacks.” He also stressed his intention to welcome investors from across the globe, including China, provided national security concerns are met.

Despite his bold targets, Naidu faces steep challenges. Andhra Pradesh continues to grapple with a high fiscal deficit, limited industrialization, and uneven infrastructure after losing Hyderabad to Telangana. Still, his winning combination of experience, alliances, and optimism appears to be restoring investor confidence. “Always, challenges and opportunities go together,” he said. “If we perform, Andhra will lead India’s next growth story.”

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