Google to boost presence in Visakhapatnam with big investments

Google has revealed plans to make Visakhapatnam a central hub for its strategic investments in Andhra Pradesh. The announcement came during a meeting between a Google delegation, led by Bikash Koley, Vice President of Google Global Networking and Infrastructure, and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in Amaravati on December 11.

The meeting followed a collaboration agreement signed on December 5 in Visakhapatnam, focused on advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiatives. The Google team used this occasion to further outline its plans for expanding operations in India and discussed future investments in the region, particularly in Visakhapatnam.

Bikash Koley emphasized the importance of Andhra Pradesh as a critical partner in Google's operations and expressed optimism about the potential projects in the pipeline. The official press release highlighted the state's strategic role in Google's vision for growth.

In response, Chief Minister Naidu reflected on the IT sector's historical growth in Andhra Pradesh, noting how his efforts had helped attract investments that spurred socio-economic development in the past. He assured Google that his government would provide full support, including necessary incentives, to facilitate the company's upcoming ventures in the state.

The partnership aims to foster a strong technological ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh while also generating significant employment opportunities. Google plans to collaborate closely with both its global and local teams to implement these projects. A strategic cooperation agreement was also formalized during the meeting.

State IT Minister N. Lokesh, who had recently visited Google headquarters in the U.S., was also present. He shared insights from his interactions with Google’s leadership.

The press release also noted a broader shift in investor sentiment towards Andhra Pradesh under the current TDP-led NDA government. The state has attracted several major investments from global and Indian companies, including Reliance Industries, Tata Group, ArcelorMittal, Nippon Steel, and Bharat Forge. These developments are expected to not only boost Andhra Pradesh's economy but also contribute to the overall growth of the IT sector in India.

The meeting was attended by key officials, including Chief Secretary Neerabh Kumar and Industries and Commerce Secretary Dr. N. Yuvraj.