AP IT Min. Lokesh hails Google AI hub as largest FDI, says Vizag to become ‘Data City’
Visakhapatnam, Apr 28 (TNT) : Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh on Tuesday said the Google Cloud India AI Hub project marks the ‘largest foreign direct investment by Google in India’, positioning Visakhapatnam as a major global technology destination.
Speaking after the foundation stone laying ceremony, Lokesh thanked Adani ConneX and Airtel Nxtra for their support, and expressed gratitude to farmers who provided land for the project.
He said the project signals a turning point for the city, adding that Visakhapatnam, historically known as the “Steel City,” is now set to emerge as a “Data City” with the establishment of the AI data centre.
Lokesh said the project would place Visakhapatnam firmly on the global IT map and recalled Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s role in developing Cyberabad into a major technology hub.
Referring to recent investments, including projects by ArcelorMittal and Google, he said Andhra Pradesh is witnessing renewed investor confidence.
With support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state is attracting a significant share of national investments, he added.
The Minister said the AI data centre project, with an investment of ₹1.35 lakh crore, is expected to generate large-scale employment opportunities, particularly in sectors such as cybersecurity, cloud computing and mechanical engineering.
Lokesh said the government is pursuing decentralised, cluster-based development across regions including North Andhra, Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema, while targeting the creation of 20 lakh jobs.
He alleged that while the government is focused on development, opposition forces are attempting to create hurdles, including through legal challenges, and seeking to claim credit for the project.
Reaffirming the government’s vision, he said efforts are under way to develop the Visakhapatnam region into the country’s first trillion-dollar economic zone.
TNT KM
