Andhra Pradesh IT and Human Resource Development Minister Nara Lokesh made a strong pitch for the state as a premier investment destination at the World Economic Forum Summit in Davos on January 20. Speaking to CNBC-TV18 on the sidelines of the summit, Lokesh emphasized the state's commitment to facilitating business operations and attracting both domestic and international investors.

Investment-Friendly Approach and Government Commitment

Lokesh positioned Andhra Pradesh as highly accessible to potential investors, stating the government is "just one WhatsApp message away" and fully prepared to welcome business partnerships. The minister highlighted India's growing appeal as an investment hub, encouraging global players to consider Andhra Pradesh as their preferred destination.

"For all the global investors, India is the future. So you should look at India and give a chance to Andhra Pradesh and we won't let them (investors) down," Lokesh stated during his interaction with media.

The state government plans to focus on improving the ease and speed of conducting business through various reforms. Lokesh outlined plans for decriminalization of various laws and implementation of new labor reforms to create a unique competitive advantage compared to other Indian states.

Investment Performance and Sector Focus

The minister revealed impressive statistics about the state's investment attraction capabilities:

Lokesh emphasized the state's cluster-dependent approach to industrial development, ensuring companies from specific sectors are grouped together for better sustainability and growth prospects.

Upcoming Announcements and Technological Developments

The minister promised significant investment announcements across multiple sectors within the next 90 days. These sectors span a diverse range including:

• Aquaculture
• Cement manufacturing
• Renewable energy
• Quantum technology
• Glass manufacturing
• Space technology
• Electronics manufacturing
• Shipbuilding
• Automotive sector

A major technological milestone for the state includes the arrival of India's 153-cubic quantum computer in Andhra Pradesh this month, with the government currently developing use-cases for the advanced technology.

Strategic Sector Development and Private Partnerships

Lokesh outlined ambitious plans for specialized industrial cities, including concepts for a glass city, space city, and drone city. The state has already secured commitments from private companies, with space startup Skyroot announcing plans to build a space center in Andhra Pradesh.

Under the LIFT (Land Incentive For Tech hubs) Policy, the minister indicated that details about additional company investments would be revealed within the 90-day timeline. During the Davos Summit, discussions were held with major technology companies including Cognizant and TCS regarding potential investments in the state.

Employment Generation and Future Outlook

The Andhra Pradesh government has successfully generated 400,000 jobs and has set an ambitious target of creating two million jobs over the next five years, fulfilling promises made during the election campaign. This employment generation strategy aligns with the state's sector-wise cluster development approach and focus on emerging technologies.

Lokesh's presentation at the World Economic Forum represents the state's renewed commitment to attracting global investment and positioning itself as a competitive destination for business operations across multiple high-growth sectors.

The Andhra Pradesh government has greenlit renewable energy projects totaling ₹158.00 billion at the 14th State Investment Promotion Board meeting, marking a significant boost to the state's clean energy sector. These renewable energy approvals formed part of the larger ₹193.91 billion in total investments cleared during the meeting.

Major Investment Approvals

The standout approval was Tata Power's substantial investment plan worth ₹66.75 billion to develop a 10 GW ingot and wafer manufacturing plant in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. This facility represents a major step toward strengthening India's solar manufacturing capabilities and reducing import dependence.

Regulatory Developments

The Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC) has notified the BERC (Deviation Settlement Mechanism and Related Matters) Regulations, 2025. This regulatory framework follows a suo motu proceeding initiated to align intra-state deviation settlement provisions with the national electricity policy, tariff policy, and the latest Central Electricity Regulatory Commission regulations.

Simultaneously, the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission has established a levelized tariff of ₹3.40 per kWh for solar projects with capacity over 3 MW and up to 5 MW in urban and industrial areas for financial year 2027. The Commission has also set tariffs for solar projects between 1 MW and 3 MW under the Renewable Energy Sources and Terms and Conditions for Tariff Determination Regulations, 2017. Stakeholders have until February 10, 2026, to submit comments or objections.

Major Tender Activities

Several significant tenders have been floated across the renewable energy sector:

Solar Energy Corporation of India has invited bids for a balance of system package for a 700 MW solar project at Raghanesda in Gujarat's Banaskantha district. The comprehensive scope includes turnkey execution covering design, engineering, procurement, civil works, and five years of operations and maintenance. Bids must be submitted by January 29, 2026.

NTPC Green Energy is seeking contractors for engineering, procurement, and construction packages for up to 100 MW of agricultural photovoltaic projects across Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh. The minimum capacity requirement is 10 MW per location, with bid submissions due by January 22, 2026.

Corporate Developments and Partnerships

In the corporate sector, Asahi India Glass will procure 20.80 MW of wind-solar hybrid power from Adani Green Energy Twenty Five B in captive mode. The power will be supplied from a 25 MW solar and 20.80 MW wind power project located in Khavda, Gujarat. Asahi India will subscribe to at least 26% of the generator's proportionate equity share capital.

Hartek Power has secured an engineering, procurement, and construction contract valued at approximately ₹3.53 billion for a 280 MW solar project with an 80 MW/320 MWh battery energy storage system in Karnataka's Chitradurga district. The project scope includes one year of operations and maintenance services.

Technology and Innovation

LEAPTING has signed an agreement with Waaree Renewables to deploy over 2,000 water-free, fully automatic solar module cleaning robots across three solar projects in Rajasthan totaling 1.20 GW capacity. The deployment will utilize LEAPTING's G1 automatic solar module cleaning robots on two-in-portrait fixed-tilt mounting structures.

These developments collectively demonstrate the accelerating momentum in India's renewable energy sector, with substantial investments in manufacturing capabilities, regulatory framework improvements, and technological innovations driving the clean energy transition forward.

Source: https://www.mercomindia.com/daily-news-wrap-up-andhra-pradesh-approves-₹158-billion-in-clean-energy-projects