Redmond: Andhra Pradesh’s Minister for IT and Electronics, Mr. Nara Lokesh, has sought collaboration with Microsoft CEO Mr. Satya Nadella to drive digital governance initiatives in Andhra Pradesh. On his US visit to attract tech investment, Mr. Lokesh met Mr. Nadella at Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington, and invited him to visit Andhra Pradesh, emphasizing the CEO’s personal connection to the state.
During the meeting, Mr. Nadella highlighted Microsoft’s leadership in software, cloud computing, and enterprise technology, noting the company’s $3.1 trillion market cap and record $211.9 million profit in 2023.
Mr. Lokesh acknowledged former Chief Minister Mr. Chandrababu Naidu’s vision for Hyderabad as an IT hub and announced plans to establish Andhra Pradesh as an IT capital, setting up new IT hubs and innovation parks. He proposed Microsoft’s active role in scaling these hubs globally and emphasized Andhra Pradesh’s strong educational background in IT and engineering as an asset.
In addition, Mr. Lokesh discussed integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture, envisioning Andhra Pradesh as a model for AI-driven farming. Plans include developing Amaravati as an AI capital with a dedicated AI university.
Mr. Nadella expressed full support for these initiatives, promising collaboration in AI and digital transformation for Andhra Pradesh.
