00:00Now let's also get you an exclusive conversation with Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh on a day when KIA has
00:05also announced a blockbuster investment in Andhra Pradesh of 2 billion dollars, that's about 17,000 crore rupees, it's going
00:12to generate over 10,000 jobs in the state.
00:22In terms of these investments that you're looking at of 11 plus 11, the number that, it's a very specific
00:3022 lakh crore double two digits number that you have given, how much of this are you expecting to translate
00:37into actual projects in the next two years and what is going to be the key focus area sector?
00:41Well, our target is to actually translate 90% of these projects to the grounding point. So we're not signing
00:48MOEs just to brag, we're actually signing MOEs to ground these projects, number one.
00:52Number two, you raised a very important point on the sectors that we're focused on. We actually have 22 clusters
00:58that we're building out, ranging from cement cluster all the way up to renewable energy cluster.
01:03So 24 such very clear clusters where we're going about very systematically in building out the entire ecosystem. So it's
01:11not just about bringing one company, but it's about attracting the entire industry.
01:15So bringing in all the players who build, you know, the end product and also looking at a horizontal integration
01:21of education, skilling, research and development. And that is what makes Andhra Pradesh very unique, our cluster based approach.
01:28Right. The last time I was here, we had a brief chat and I also had the opportunity to speak
01:33to CM Garu on a couple of key interest points in sunrise sectors that you've been targeting.
01:39I remember the last conversation we had, the key focus was AI, was on data centers. And you've had quite
01:45some projects that you have bagged with big names, Google also being one of them.
01:49Has the focus continued or because of the geopolitical situation, have you seen some change in the behavioral scenario when
01:57it comes to investors?
01:59No, absolutely not. In fact, investors are doubling down on India because they see India as a very stable democracy.
02:05You know, we are seeing what's happening in Europe and various other democratic countries.
02:09So investors are looking at India from a stability standpoint. And in India, they look at Andhra Pradesh because we
02:15mean speed.
02:15We actually deliver on that promise. So that is how we are able to set ourselves apart.
02:20And in data centers, actually, we have a different problem. There's more interest than what we can actually give.
02:26So it's a very different problem that we have. And we have been very cautious in our approach to data
02:30centers.
02:31As in, we are not just looking at water-cooled, we are also looking at air-cooled data centers.
02:36And that's the change that we are slowly making here in Andhra Pradesh.
02:40Okay. When you say that we have a lot more to, a lot more is being asked upon what rather
02:47than is could be offered.
02:48Is it because of the infrastructure capability capacity that is limiting you?
02:53Or is it just more and more opportunity that's flowing towards the state?
03:00Well, Andhra Pradesh, as I say, has the 3S mantra, speed, stability and service.
03:05Speed of doing business, stability in our policy frameworks.
03:09And third is service. So we are in touch with every investor.
03:12We are very proactive. We reach out to them.
03:15We send weekly updates on their investments in Andhra Pradesh.
03:18So these 3S is our mantra.
03:21And that is how we are able to set ourselves apart from the different states that are competing for the
03:24same investments in India.
03:26And that is how we are able to set ourselves apart from the different states that are competing for the
03:26same investments in India.
