Naidu pitches investments to Gates, CEOs in Davos
05 Feb 2025 CW Team
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, on his third day at the World Economic Forum in Davos, met global leaders and corporate executives to attract investments into the state.
Naidu held discussions with Microsoft founder Bill Gates, exploring collaboration on an AI University, Innovation & Incubation, a Health Center of Excellence, and positioning Andhra Pradesh as South India's gateway.
In a meeting with Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian, Naidu proposed setting up a design centre in Visakhapatnam, integrating Google’s server supply chain with a manufacturing unit in the state, and making Andhra Pradesh a hub for server maintenance. Recently, Google signed an MoU with the state to establish a Data City in Visakhapatnam and boost skill development through AI initiatives.
Petronas President and CEO Muhammad Taufik discussed plans to invest Rs 13,000–Rs 15,000 crore in a green ammonia plant in Kakinada, targeting five million tonnes of annual production by 2030. The CM invited Petronas to expand investments in Mulapeta’s petrochemical hub and a Global Capability Center.
Naidu also engaged with PepsiCo International Beverages CEO Eugene Willemsen, PepsiCo Foundation Chairman Stephen Kehoe, and Bahrain’s government representatives, showcasing Andhra Pradesh’s investor-friendly policies and industrial opportunities under its ‘Speed of Doing Business’ model.
The Chief Minister also discussed opportunities in the State with Eugene Willemsen, CEO of PepsiCo International Beverages, and Stephen Kehoe, Chairman of PepsiCo Foundation.
Naidu also met Hamad Al Mahmeed, a representative of the Bahrain Prime Minister’s office, and Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, CEO of Mumtalakat. He explained the new policies introduced by the State government for industrial development and invited them to invest in Andhra Pradesh taking advantage of its ‘Speed of Doing Business’ approach.