AP on the Global Map: Naidu’s Vision at Raisina Dialogue

At the prestigious Raisina Dialogue, N. Chandrababu Naidu made a notable appearance in the “In Conversation” segment moderated by Samir Saran. Naidu also became the first sitting Chief Minister from South India to participate in the conference as a speaker, using the platform to outline his vision for the future of AP and its role in India’s technological and economic transformation.

Responding to questions on the role of technology, Naidu emphasized that technological systems are central not only to the state’s development but to India’s overall growth. He pointed out that the IT revolution significantly boosted per capita income across the country and noted that the Telugu states have been major contributors to this progress. Highlighting recent developments, he referred to major investments such as a Google data center and initiatives in emerging sectors like quantum computing.

On artificial intelligence, the CM reflected on the early skepticism surrounding the development of the erstwhile united AP. According to him, the transformation of Hyderabad into a major knowledge and technology hub changed that perception. He argued that the future impact of AI will depend largely on how effectively states and countries adopt and integrate the technology into governance, industry, and services.

Naidu also expressed strong confidence that AP can emerge as the entrepreneurial capital of India’s eastern coast. Drawing from his earlier tenure, he recalled how the development of Cyberabad helped transform Hyderabad into a major global center for pharmaceuticals, technology, and innovation.

He added that the new capital city of Amaravati offers advantages such as better environmental conditions and the potential to host global institutions, even welcoming the idea of an Observer Research Foundation (ORF) center being established there.

Education, he stressed, will remain a crucial pillar for the state’s progress. Naidu spoke about the possibility of “reverse brain drain” as India’s technology ecosystem expands and highlighted investments in green energy and data infrastructure, including a new project in Kurnool developed in partnership with a German company.

One particularly notable point he raised was about the global presence of people from AP. Naidu credited their success to opportunities created over the past three decades, especially in the software industry. These early openings enabled professionals from the region to enter international technology sectors, building strong global networks. Today, he believes this foundation is enabling the state to move into new frontiers such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, drone technology, and specialized innovation hubs like Space City and Drone City.

Through these initiatives, Naidu suggested that AP is positioning itself not only as a regional growth engine but also as a visible and active participant in India’s broader technological and economic ambitions.