Visakhapatnam is on the verge of big changes, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu assured TDP leaders on 5 December 2024 night after he landed in Vizag for a two-day trip. Speaking ahead of the Global Forum for Sustainable Transformation (GFS) conference on 6 December, he outlined key industries and infrastructure projects set to come up in Visakhapatnam including a Google Cloud Data Centre.
The Chief Minister, who arrived directly from Mumbai, held a brief 20-minute discussion with public representatives aboard his campaign bus. He highlighted major upcoming projects, including the NTPC Green Hydrogen Hub and the Accor-Mittal Steel Plant in Anakapalle district. Notably, a Google Cloud Data Center is also set to come up in Visakhapatnam, which he described as a milestone for the city’s IT landscape.
These initiatives, worth nearly Rs 4 lakh crore, are expected to begin within the next six months. Once completed, Visakhapatnam will reach a new level of development in just two years, said the Chief Minister.
Nara Lokesh’s Role in Securing Google Cloud Investment
The announcement comes on the heels of efforts made last month by IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh during his visit to the United States. Nara Lokesh had met with senior executives at Google’s San Francisco headquarters, including CEO Thomas Kurian and global networking vice-president Bikas Koley. During the meeting, Lokesh urged Google to establish a data center in Visakhapatnam under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Nara Lokesh emphasized the state’s commitment to innovation, pointing to Andhra Pradesh’s AI-driven e-governance initiatives and smart city programs. “Andhra Pradesh offers the perfect ecosystem for investments in technology and innovation,” he told Google’s leadership.
The minister also sought Google’s collaboration in key areas such as real-time governance, disaster response, and urban planning. He proposed integrating smart cities with Google Maps through geospatial services and suggested AI-based training programs for youth to enhance digital education and skill development.
In response, Google’s leadership expressed interest and assured Lokesh that they would hold internal discussions on the proposals. With the Chief Minister stating that the Google Cloud Centre will come up in Visakhapatnam soon, the State Government’s efforts seem to have been successful. According to sources, the MoU for the same is expected to be signed on 11 December.
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