Minister Nara Lokesh, who completed his US tour, reached Canada on Wednesday. He met representatives of different organisations in Toronto. Explaining various investment opportunities in AP, he invited Canadian companies to be part of development in the state. He asked Business Council of Canada to extend support to Canadian investments in the industrial sector of AP. He also called on President of the Council, Haider in Toronto.
"The state has received investments over ₹20 lakh crore during the last 18 months and many more projects are in the pipeline. We are developing ports, airports, road network, and industrial corridors. Global companies like Google, ArcelorMittal, and Reliance are investing here. With IT companies like TCS, Cognizant, and new data centers, Visakhapatnam is emerging into a global city." Haider assured full support to the Canadian companies investing in Andhra Pradesh.
Minister Lokesh requested Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited to join in the building of an airport at Kuppam. He met CEO Prem Watsa and extended an invitation for investments in tourism and hospitality. He offered cooperation in hotel and tourist destination development with Fairfax's subsidiary, Sterling Resorts. He mentioned Nallamala as a potential place for Sterling Resorts, similar to Panama City, Florida. Prem Watsa said they would consider the proposals put forward by Andhra Pradesh.
During the meeting with the CPPIB global team, Lokesh exhorted investment in green energy. He showcased the experience of CPPIB in the ports and logistics business. He also requested them to invest in toll roads, transportation projects and Amaravati development. The Minister urged that long-term capital is essential to fuel growth in state infrastructure.
Investment in AI and Quantum Computing Minister Lokesh met with John Radko, Senior Vice President of OpenText, a global company in Enterprise Information Management and Artificial Intelligence. He asked for investments in the AI and Quantum Computing sectors of Andhra Pradesh. He also suggested skill development and internship training in order to enable the local boys with global-level skills. John Radko said that OpenText offers cloud and AI solutions for data management, business processes, and digital experiences. He mentioned the strong presence of their company in India, and its plans for expansion into Tier-2 cities. He asserted that they would consider Andhra Pradesh's proposals.
