Piyush Goyal backs Andhra’s investment pitch at CII curtain raiser; Naidu cites ₹22 lakh crore in agreements

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said Andhra Pradesh had a rich maritime history that dated back to the reign of the Satavahanas, when goods used to be exported throughout the world. This was evident from the coins used by the Satavahanas that featured a ship symbol, which showcased the nation’s maritime trade. “Even today, AP remains the ‘care of’ address for traders and industrialists. The State has tremendous investment opportunities waiting to be explored,” he said, noting that AP was endowed with abundant natural resources and skilled manpower.

Speaking as the chief guest at the curtain raiser for the CII Partnership Summit 2026 in New Delhi on Thursday (October 8, 2026), Mr. Goyal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government were extending necessary support for the development of AP. Projects such as the Google data centre in Visakhapatnam and the Quantum Computing Valley in Amaravati reflected the true potential of the State, he said.

He said the Centre and the States were working together for the development of the nation like “Team India”, and the BJP-led NDA government was operating on the principles of self-reliance (Atmanirbharata), self-confidence (Atma Vishwas) and self-defence (Atma Raksha).

Mr. Goyal said AP’s focus on winning the trust of industrialists and securing investments was yielding impressive results and the State’s role was vital in India’s growth story. He expressed hope that AP would make the most of the CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the Centre and Mr. Modi were at the forefront of supporting AP, especially in the implementation of projects like Amaravati and Polavaram. He said agreements worth nearly ₹22 lakh crore had been mobilised in the last 28 months, including ₹13.50 lakh crore at the CII Partnership Summit 2025. Speed of Doing Business had been high on the government’s agenda and it was doing wonders for the State, he added.