Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh Accelerates Investment Push at Davos WEF 2026
In a high-energy outreach at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026, Andhra Pradesh's Minister for IT, Education, and RTG Departments, Nara Lokesh, intensified efforts to position the state as a premier hub for technology and renewable energy investments.
Lokesh held a series of targeted meetings with top executives from leading global firms in fintech, green energy, and artificial intelligence, pitching Andhra Pradesh's strategic advantages, infrastructure, and policy support to attract substantial capital inflows.
The minister's agenda focused on transforming Visakhapatnam into a key tech and fintech center while advancing renewable energy projects across the state. He presented clear investment proposals highlighting port infrastructure, skilled talent pools, and supportive ecosystems for startups and innovation.
A standout meeting was with Nikhil Kamath, Founder of prominent stockbroking platform Zerodha. Lokesh proposed establishing a Technology Development Center in Visakhapatnam as part of the city's plan to emerge as a fintech hub. The center would concentrate on platform engineering, backend systems, trading algorithms, and data analytics.
He also invited Zerodha to collaborate with the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub to strengthen the state's startup ecosystem and serve as a lead mentor for young entrepreneurs. Additionally, Lokesh suggested a pioneering joint program with the Andhra Pradesh government to promote financial literacy among school students—the first of its kind in the country. Kamath responded positively, assuring a thorough review of the proposals.
In the green energy domain, Lokesh met JERA's Global CEO and Chairman Yukio Kani. JERA is a Japan-based leader in renewable energy. The minister urged investments in green ammonia production facilities near Andhra Pradesh's key ports—Mulpeta, Krishnapatnam, and Kakinada—leveraging their infrastructure for exporting low-carbon ammonia to Japan and other Asian markets.
He further proposed developing solar-wind hybrid projects in Rayalaseema to meet industrial needs and pilot carbon-reduction initiatives at thermal plants in collaboration with AP GENCO and NTPC. Kani expressed interest, noting JERA's focus on building green hydrogen and green ammonia value chains in India, and committed to evaluating the state's proposals.
Lokesh also engaged Trevor Thompson, Global Managing Director of Scale AI—a leading AI firm valued at approximately $29 billion, serving clients including the U.S. Department of Defense, Meta, Microsoft, and Google. He invited Scale AI to set up a Center of Excellence in Visakhapatnam.
The proposal includes establishing an AI safety and governance lab in partnership with the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub, providing their platform for government AI applications, and collaborating on statewide AI literacy programs. Thompson praised the state's vision and said the investment proposals would be presented to their board for consideration.
These interactions align with Andhra Pradesh's broader ambition to become a critical player in technology and sustainable energy sectors. Lokesh's proactive diplomacy at Davos underscores the state's renewed focus on attracting high-quality, long-term investments to drive economic growth, job creation, and innovation.
The minister's engagements come amid other major announcements at the forum, including strategic partnerships worth billions in infrastructure and clean energy, reinforcing Andhra Pradesh's growing appeal as an investment destination.
Lokesh held a series of targeted meetings with top executives from leading global firms in fintech, green energy, and artificial intelligence, pitching Andhra Pradesh's strategic advantages, infrastructure, and policy support to attract substantial capital inflows.
The minister's agenda focused on transforming Visakhapatnam into a key tech and fintech center while advancing renewable energy projects across the state. He presented clear investment proposals highlighting port infrastructure, skilled talent pools, and supportive ecosystems for startups and innovation.
A standout meeting was with Nikhil Kamath, Founder of prominent stockbroking platform Zerodha. Lokesh proposed establishing a Technology Development Center in Visakhapatnam as part of the city's plan to emerge as a fintech hub. The center would concentrate on platform engineering, backend systems, trading algorithms, and data analytics.
He also invited Zerodha to collaborate with the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub to strengthen the state's startup ecosystem and serve as a lead mentor for young entrepreneurs. Additionally, Lokesh suggested a pioneering joint program with the Andhra Pradesh government to promote financial literacy among school students—the first of its kind in the country. Kamath responded positively, assuring a thorough review of the proposals.
In the green energy domain, Lokesh met JERA's Global CEO and Chairman Yukio Kani. JERA is a Japan-based leader in renewable energy. The minister urged investments in green ammonia production facilities near Andhra Pradesh's key ports—Mulpeta, Krishnapatnam, and Kakinada—leveraging their infrastructure for exporting low-carbon ammonia to Japan and other Asian markets.
He further proposed developing solar-wind hybrid projects in Rayalaseema to meet industrial needs and pilot carbon-reduction initiatives at thermal plants in collaboration with AP GENCO and NTPC. Kani expressed interest, noting JERA's focus on building green hydrogen and green ammonia value chains in India, and committed to evaluating the state's proposals.
Lokesh also engaged Trevor Thompson, Global Managing Director of Scale AI—a leading AI firm valued at approximately $29 billion, serving clients including the U.S. Department of Defense, Meta, Microsoft, and Google. He invited Scale AI to set up a Center of Excellence in Visakhapatnam.
The proposal includes establishing an AI safety and governance lab in partnership with the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub, providing their platform for government AI applications, and collaborating on statewide AI literacy programs. Thompson praised the state's vision and said the investment proposals would be presented to their board for consideration.
These interactions align with Andhra Pradesh's broader ambition to become a critical player in technology and sustainable energy sectors. Lokesh's proactive diplomacy at Davos underscores the state's renewed focus on attracting high-quality, long-term investments to drive economic growth, job creation, and innovation.
The minister's engagements come amid other major announcements at the forum, including strategic partnerships worth billions in infrastructure and clean energy, reinforcing Andhra Pradesh's growing appeal as an investment destination.