Andhra Pradesh Minister for IT and Education Nara Lokesh has said the state has the talent, technology and investment potential to play a significant role in India’s development, asserting that the country could become a developed nation within the next 10 years. Addressing a Pan-IIT conference in Vijayawada, Lokesh said Andhra Pradesh was working towards becoming the “No. 1 state” in the country by creating an ecosystem that brings together talent, technology, investment and innovation. He said the state was not merely preparing for the DeepTech revolution but was seeking to build the infrastructure and ecosystem needed to lead it. According to Lokesh, Andhra Pradesh is pursuing opportunities across a wide range of sectors, including horticulture, space technology, drones, quantum computing and data centres. He also invited IIT directors, alumni, entrepreneurs and industry leaders to contribute ideas and expertise to the state’s development plans, saying their participation could help translate the government’s ambitions into concrete outcomes.

Lokesh said Andhra Pradesh was seeking to create an environment in which the government, private industry, research institutions and entrepreneurs could work together on emerging technologies and economic opportunities. He emphasised the importance of collaboration between the academic and industrial ecosystems, particularly as new technologies reshape industries and create new areas of investment. Addressing the Pan-IIT gathering, he called for suggestions from members of the IIT community and said the state government was ready to learn from their experience and expertise. “Our goal is to make Andhra Pradesh the No. 1 state in the country. We need all your support to achieve this,” Lokesh said. He added that the government was keen to hear ideas and recommendations from IIT directors, alumni and business leaders. The minister’s remarks placed technology-driven growth and collaboration at the centre of Andhra Pradesh’s development strategy, with the state seeking to attract expertise and investment while expanding opportunities for its younger population.

The minister said Andhra Pradesh was looking beyond established sectors and was exploring opportunities in emerging areas such as space technology, drones, quantum computing and data centres. He also referred to horticulture as one of the sectors in which the state sees potential. The combination of traditional economic activities with advanced technology, he said, could help create a broader development ecosystem. DeepTech, which generally refers to technology based on significant scientific or engineering innovation, has become an important area of focus for governments and industries seeking to build new capabilities and high-value businesses. Lokesh said Andhra Pradesh was aiming to establish the conditions required for such technologies to develop within the state rather than simply preparing to adopt innovations created elsewhere. His emphasis on collaboration between government, academia and industry reflects the role that research institutions, entrepreneurs and private companies can play in developing new technologies, commercialising research and creating skilled employment.

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Lokesh also highlighted the state government’s intention to bring global talent and technology to Andhra Pradesh while creating world-class opportunities for young people. He said the state wanted to build an environment capable of attracting leading professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs and businesses. According to the minister, Andhra Pradesh’s development plans would require both domestic and international expertise, along with stronger connections between educational institutions and industry. He argued that the state’s intellectual resources and human capital could provide a foundation for faster economic and technological development. The focus on young people was another important part of his address, as the government seeks to connect the state’s education and technology ecosystem with new employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. Lokesh’s comments suggested that the government sees access to talent, investment and advanced technology as interconnected elements in its broader strategy for positioning Andhra Pradesh as a major destination for innovation and industry.

While outlining the state’s ambitions, Lokesh also linked Andhra Pradesh’s development prospects to India’s larger national growth objectives. He said the country possessed the intellectual strength, talent and determination required to accelerate its development and expressed confidence that India could achieve developed-nation status within a decade. “Looking at the intellectual strength, talent, determination and positive leadership we have here, I believe we can transform India into a developed nation in just 10 years,” he said. His statement framed Andhra Pradesh’s technology and investment plans within a broader national objective rather than limiting them to the state’s economic growth. The minister’s argument was that states with strong talent pools, technological capabilities and investment ecosystems could contribute to India’s overall development. His remarks at the Pan-IIT conference were therefore centred on the potential contribution of education, research, entrepreneurship and industry to the country’s long-term economic transformation.

Lokesh’s address ultimately focused on building partnerships around technology, talent and investment as Andhra Pradesh seeks to expand its economic base and strengthen its position in emerging industries. The state is looking to pursue opportunities ranging from horticulture and space technology to drones, quantum computing and data centres, while also seeking greater participation from IIT institutions, entrepreneurs and industry leaders. The minister said the government was open to suggestions and wanted experts to contribute their knowledge to the state’s development plans. His comments also reiterated the ambition of making Andhra Pradesh the country’s leading state and creating world-class opportunities for its younger generation. At the national level, Lokesh linked these efforts to his view that India has the talent and determination needed to become a developed nation within 10 years. The extent to which these ambitions translate into measurable outcomes will depend on implementation, investment, research and collaboration across government, academia and industry.

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