Amaravati, Sep 24 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday directed officials to organise five regional conferences in Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Guntur, Anantapur and Tirupati ahead of the CII Partnership Summit-2026 to attract large-scale investments.
Reviewing preparations for the 31st CII Partnership Summit, scheduled to be held in Visakhapatnam on November 12 and 13, Naidu said the event should not be limited to signing investment agreements but should also inspire aspiring entrepreneurs and further strengthen the Andhra Pradesh brand.
“Naidu directed officials to organise five regional conferences in Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Guntur, Anantapur and Tirupati as a prelude to the CII Partnership Summit-2026 to attract large-scale investments,” a press release said, quoting the CM.
Naidu directed officials to promote MSMEs through an ‘MSME Showcase’ at each regional conference and suggested introducing a ‘Shark Tank’-style platform to connect startups with potential investors.
He directed officials to link Ratan Tata Innovation Hubs (RTIHs) with the regional conferences and prepare an action plan to lay foundation stones for MSME parks in another 30 constituencies before the summit.
Observing that the regional conferences should encourage school students to develop startup ideas, Naidu said entrepreneurship-related subjects should be introduced from Class 7 onwards to inspire students at an early age.
The regional conferences are scheduled between October 7 and 26, beginning with Visakhapatnam on October 7. The inaugural conference will focus on AI, data centres, IT and fintech, semiconductors, GCCs, pharma and med-tech.
The Kakinada conference on October 12 will focus on maritime, shipbuilding, chemicals, green hydrogen, ammonia, aqua exports and food processing.
The Guntur conference on October 16 will focus on governance, capital city development, urban infrastructure, quantum valley and emerging technologies.
The Anantapur conference on October 23 will focus on aerospace, defence, automotive, natural farming, horticulture, food processing and renewable energy.
The concluding conference in Tirupati on October 26 will focus on tourism, hospitality, electronics manufacturing, semiconductors, advanced materials, automotive, space and footwear.
Naidu suggested organising programmes on the lines of ‘Invest Kadapa’ in all districts to attract more investments.
In the run-up to the summit, domestic and international roadshows are also being held to attract investors, industrialists and international delegates.
Domestic roadshows have already been held in Chennai, Coimbatore and Bengaluru, while similar events are scheduled in Ahmedabad on September 25, Hyderabad on September 28 and Mumbai on September 30.
International roadshows have been completed in Singapore, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan, while similar events will be held in Sweden from September 29 to October 1, Japan on October 13 and 14, and China on October 15 and 16.
So far, 11 international ministers, 26 international speakers and representatives from 21 countries have confirmed their participation, the press release said.
Ministers and representatives from Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Slovak Republic, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Mauritius, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Guatemala and Mozambique are expected to participate.
The theme for this year’s summit has been finalised as ‘Trade, Technology, Trust and Thought Leadership’.
A curtain-raiser event for the summit will be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on October 8 in the presence of diplomats, government representatives and others.
Reviewing the current status of investments, the TDP supremo directed departments to convert 80 per cent of investment proposals by the end of October and ensure that 75 per cent of the converted projects are grounded, the press release said.
Officials informed the CM that since June 2024, agreements have been signed for 714 projects involving investments of Rs 22.57 lakh crore.
Of these, 473 projects worth Rs 16.6 lakh crore have been converted, while 247 of the converted projects have already been grounded, officials said.
(PTI News)
