Andhra Pradesh’s Minister for IT, Electronics, Communications and Human Resources Development Mr Nara Lokesh who is currently in Russia on a 5-day official tour addressed the India-Russia Business Forum on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
Making a bold pitch for a new generation of India-Russia economic partnerships, he invited Russian space, energy, aerospace, and technology companies to make Andhra Pradesh their preferred investment destination.
The minister positioned Andhra Pradesh as a key contributor to the ambitious India-Russia bilateral trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030 set by Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi & President Mr Vladimir Putin.
Calling India-Russia relations a partnership built on “trust that holds firm when the world is uncertain,” Mr Lokesh said the relationship had moved beyond diplomatic symbolism and was now creating tangible industrial value through investments, energy partnerships and advanced technology cooperation.
“Russia stood with India during defining moments of our development journey, from Bhilai and Kudankulam to BrahMos and Gaganyaan. That foundation is not something you build overnight. It is something you protect and build upon,” he said.
Highlighting existing success stories, Minister Lokesh pointed to Russian aluminium giant RUSAL’s 1.5 million tonne Pioneer Alumina Project and Rosneft-backed Nayara Energy as examples of thriving Indo-Russian industrial collaboration that could be replicated across new sectors.
Recalling how India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, was launched aboard a Soviet rocket in 1975 and how Roscosmos continues to support India’s human spaceflight ambitions through Gaganyaan, Minister Lokesh said the next chapter of Indo-Russian cooperation could be written from Andhra Pradesh.
Tirupati Space City
“India’s only operational spaceport at Sriharikota is located in Andhra Pradesh. More than 100 missions have been launched from our soil.
Building on that legacy, we are creating dedicated Space Cities designed for research, satellite development and deep-tech innovation,” he said.
Minister Lokesh unveiled plans for the 2,800-acre Tirupati Space City, strategically located with direct access to Sriharikota, which will focus on launch vehicle assembly, satellite manufacturing and avionics production.
“We aspire to attract close to 4 billion dollars of investment into this ecosystem” informed the minister.
In one of the strongest investment invitations made by AP state government at SPIEF, Mr Lokesh directly called upon Russian space enterprises to establish operations in Andhra Pradesh.
“Andhra Pradesh is the natural home for Roscosmos technology partners, propulsion companies, satellite integrators and space-tech enterprises who want to be part of the world’s fastest-growing space economy,” said AP’s IT minister.
Defence Push
He also pitched Andhra Pradesh as a strategic manufacturing and technology hub for Russian companies seeking to participate in India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat push.
Mr Lokesh highlighted emerging opportunities in aerospace, semiconductors, microelectronics, artificial intelligence, drones, naval systems and advanced manufacturing, particularly around the state’s Advanced Manufacturing Cluster near Bengaluru in Sri Satya Sai district.
Positioning Andhra Pradesh as one of India’s most investor-friendly destinations, Minister Lokesh said the state offered over 1,053 kilometres of coastline, six operational ports, extensive industrial land banks, reliable power infrastructure and an administration focused on rapid project execution.
Speed of Doing Business
“What we are most proud of is not policy on paper but delivery on the ground. Large industrial projects are progressing rapidly in our state, and we are known for moving with speed when an investor makes a commitment. We call it the Speed of Doing Business,” he said.
As geopolitical realignments reshape global supply chains and investment flows, Minister Lokesh stated, “The world today values relationships it can trust. India and Russia have that trust. What we must now build together is the future.”
Inviting Russian industries to view Andhra Pradesh not merely as an investment destination but as a long-term strategic partner, Minister Lokesh concluded: “On the ground, in the sea and in the stars above, Andhra Pradesh is ready. India is ready.”
