N. Chandrababu Naidu made a notable appearance at the prestigious Raisina Dialogue, where he participated in the “In Conversation” session moderated by Samir Saran. Naidu also became the first sitting Chief Minister from South India to speak at the conference, using the global platform to outline his vision for the future of Andhra Pradesh and its potential role in India’s technological and economic transformation.

Responding to questions about technology, Naidu emphasized that technological systems are central not only to the state’s development but also to India’s overall growth. He noted that the IT revolution significantly increased per capita income across the country and highlighted the major role played by the Telugu states in that transformation. He also referred to recent developments, including major investments such as a Google data center and new initiatives in emerging sectors like quantum computing.

Speaking about artificial intelligence, Naidu recalled the early skepticism surrounding the development of the then united Andhra Pradesh. According to him, the transformation of Hyderabad into a major knowledge and technology hub changed that perception. He stated that the future impact of AI will depend largely on how effectively governments and industries adopt and integrate the technology into governance, services, and economic activities.

Naidu also expressed strong confidence that Andhra Pradesh could emerge as the entrepreneurial capital of India’s eastern coast. Reflecting on his earlier tenure, he recalled how the development of Cyberabad played a key role in turning Hyderabad into a global center for pharmaceuticals, technology, and innovation.

He further noted that the new capital city, Amaravati, offers advantages such as better environmental conditions and the potential to host international institutions. Naidu even welcomed the idea of establishing a center of the Observer Research Foundation in Amaravati.

Education, he stressed, will remain a crucial pillar for the state’s long-term growth. Naidu also spoke about the possibility of “reverse brain drain” as India’s technology ecosystem continues to expand. He highlighted investments in green energy and data infrastructure, including a new project being developed in Kurnool in partnership with a German company.

Another key point he raised was the strong global presence of people from Andhra Pradesh. Naidu credited their success to opportunities created over the past three decades, particularly in the software industry. These early opportunities enabled professionals from the region to enter international technology sectors and build strong global networks.

Building on this foundation, Naidu said the state is now moving into new frontiers such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, drone technology, and specialized innovation hubs like Space City and Drone City. Through these initiatives, he suggested that Andhra Pradesh is positioning itself not only as a regional growth engine but also as an active contributor to India’s broader technological and economic ambitions.