Vijayawada: Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the Amaravati Drone Summit 2024 in Mangalagiri, sharing his ambitious roadmap for establishing Andhra Pradesh as India’s premier drone technology hub. Addressing a diverse audience of innovators, drone manufacturers, and tech experts, he emphasized the potential of drone technology to propel the state’s economic growth and position it as a leader in India’s technology landscape.
Reflecting on his influential role in India’s IT revolution during the 1990s, Naidu recalled the launch of HiTech City, a milestone achieved through a public-private partnership in 1995 that transformed Hyderabad into a tech giant. His efforts attracted global tech leaders like Microsoft to India, a feat he achieved by highlighting the nation’s strengths in English and mathematics. He credited former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with deregulating the telecom sector, which paved the way for India’s mobile technology boom.
In his speech, Naidu praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, noting his efforts to elevate Brand India on the global stage. “With the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji, India is on the path to becoming the world’s third-largest economy by 2047. With collective effort, India can aim to be the number one global economy,” he said. Naidu highlighted Modi’s initiatives, including JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) and Ayushman Bharat, as transformative for the country’s digital infrastructure.
Key announcements from Naidu included a 300-acre allocation in Orvakallu, Kurnool District, designated as a drone technology hub. “Amaravati will be the drone capital of India, and Andhra Pradesh will pioneer drone innovation and production,” Naidu declared. This drone hub aims to boost manufacturing, research, and development, making Andhra Pradesh a center for drone technology.
Naidu also unveiled plans to train 35,000 drone pilots in Andhra Pradesh, creating a skilled workforce to support growing industry needs. Within 15 days, the state government will release a comprehensive drone policy to provide a favorable business environment for manufacturers and innovators. He also invited stakeholders to use Andhra Pradesh as a pilot testing ground for new drone projects, with plans for successful projects to be implemented statewide.
“Data is the new wealth,” Naidu said, pointing out that 400 million terabytes of data are generated daily, with artificial intelligence adding further potential for groundbreaking innovation. He encouraged the development of a robust ecosystem for knowledge-based industries in Andhra Pradesh, emphasizing the need to think globally and adapt to the rapidly evolving knowledge economy.
