CM Chandrababu Naidu directs five regional conferences across AP ahead of CII Partnership Summit 2026 to attract investments, promote MSMEs and support startups.
Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to organise five regional conferences across the state ahead of the CII Partnership Summit-2026, with the objective of attracting investments, promoting entrepreneurship and strengthening Andhra Pradesh as an investment destination.
The Chief Minister reviewed preparations for the 31st CII Partnership Summit, scheduled to be held in Visakhapatnam on November 12 and 13, 2026.
Naidu said the summit should go beyond the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and create a platform to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs while strengthening the Andhra Pradesh brand.
The regional conferences will be held in Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Guntur, Anantapur and Tirupati between October 7 and October 26.
The Chief Minister directed officials to organise an MSME Showcase at each conference to highlight local enterprises and investment opportunities.
He also suggested introducing a Shark Tank-style platform to connect start-ups with potential investors. Ratan Tata Innovation Hubs should also be linked with the regional conferences, he directed.
Officials were asked to prepare an action plan to lay foundation stones for MSME parks in another 30 constituencies before the Partnership Summit.
Naidu also called for greater focus on developing entrepreneurship among students. Regional conferences should encourage school students to develop start-up ideas, while entrepreneurship-related subjects should be introduced from Class 7 onwards, he suggested.
The Chief Minister further proposed organising programmes similar to ‘Invest Kadapa’ across all districts to attract investments at the local level.
Naidu reviewed the status of investment proposals received by the state and directed departments to accelerate their conversion and implementation.
He set a target of converting 80 per cent of investment proposals by the end of October and ensuring that 75 per cent of the converted projects are grounded.
Officials informed the Chief Minister that since June 2024, MoUs have been signed for 714 projects involving investments of Rs. 22.57 lakh crore.
Of these, 473 projects involving Rs. 16.6 lakh crore have been converted, while 247 converted projects have already been grounded, according to officials.
The government has planned sector-focused discussions at each regional conference.
Visakhapatnam, October 7: AI, data centres, IT and fintech, semiconductors, Global Capability Centres (GCCs), pharmaceuticals and med-tech.
Kakinada, October 12: Maritime sector, shipbuilding, chemicals, green hydrogen, ammonia, aqua exports and food processing.
Guntur, October 16: Governance, capital city development, urban infrastructure, Quantum Valley and emerging technologies.
Anantapur, October 23: Aerospace, defence, automotive, natural farming, horticulture, food processing and renewable energy.
Tirupati, October 26: Tourism, hospitality, electronics manufacturing, semiconductors, advanced materials, automotive, space and footwear.
The sector-specific format is intended to connect regional strengths and emerging industries with investors and potential business partners.
The state government is also conducting domestic and international roadshows to attract investors, industrialists and international delegates to the CII Partnership Summit.
Domestic roadshows have already been conducted in Chennai, Coimbatore and Bengaluru.
Upcoming domestic roadshows are scheduled in Ahmedabad on September 25, Hyderabad on September 28 and Mumbai on September 30.
International roadshows have already been completed in Singapore, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan.
Further international roadshows are scheduled in Sweden from September 29 to October 1, Japan on October 13-14 and China on October 15-16.
According to officials, 11 international ministers, 26 international speakers and representatives from 21 countries have confirmed their participation so far.
Representatives from countries including Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, Slovakia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Mauritius, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Guatemala and Mozambique are expected to participate.
The theme for the 2026 summit has been finalised as “Trade, Technology, Trust and Thought Leadership.”
A curtain-raiser event will be organised at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on October 8, with diplomats, government representatives and members of the media expected to attend.
The Chief Minister also reviewed infrastructure arrangements for the summit.
He directed officials to ensure that the proposed Convention Centre at Kapuluppada in Visakhapatnam is designed not only to meet the requirements of the Partnership Summit but also to accommodate other future events and requirements.
The government is positioning the CII Partnership Summit as a platform to convert investment proposals into projects, showcase the state's regional strengths and connect businesses, start-ups and investors ahead of the November summit.
