“One IT professional in every family” – Chandrababu Naidu outlines AP’s global ambitions

Naidu expressed strong confidence in the NDA’s electoral prospects, saying, “I am fully confident that the NDA will win in Bihar, and I am prepared to campaign in the state whenever I am requested by senior leadership.”

DUBAI: In a wide-ranging and exclusive interview with The Brew News, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N. Chandrababu Naidu shared insights on his vision for transforming Andhra Pradesh into a global innovation hub, his push for real-time governance, and how the Telugu diaspora plays a vital role in the state’s future, during his recent Dubai visit. Speaking to The Brew News Managing Editor Shaneer N Siddiqui, The Chief Minister also reiterated his famous slogan, “One IT professional in every family,” as a guiding principle behind Andhra Pradesh’s digital-first development strategy, emphasising technology, entrepreneurship, and inclusive growth.

The Brew News: What are the key objectives of this visit, and what outcomes do you hope to achieve?
N. Chandrababu Naidu: From the very beginning, I have been working to promote not just India but in particular our state of Andhra Pradesh. When I travel, I meet people, build networks, and try to understand what is happening around the world. For example, in the mid‑1990s I met Bill Gates when many wondered why a local politician was doing so. That was simply because I foresaw how data and information technology could transform our society. Today, thanks to the evolution of IT, Indians are achieving remarkable success globally.
Among Indians abroad one in four is from our state. In any country you look at, you will find a strong Indian presence. And IT remains the backbone of a phenomenal economy. My objective for this visit is to showcase our state’s readiness and invite more collaboration and investment.

The Brew News: What kind of investments are you seeking from UAE‑based and global investors? What promises or outcomes do you foresee from this visit?
N. Chandrababu Naidu: Over the last three decades I have been visiting Dubai and establishing connections. When I started in Hyderabad, the journey was challenging but now that city thrives globally. Today Hyderabad ranks among India’s top cities for quality of life and per‑capita income.
With policymakers, family‑businesses and government‑business companies meeting here in the UAE, I am very confident. The purpose of this visit is to invite everyone to partner with us. My mission is that this visit will yield significant investor interest in India, particularly Andhra Pradesh. I see people showing strong interest in our opportunities. I am confident we will deliver on that.

The Brew News: What are the major projects in which NRIs and foreign investors can participate, and how does your government plan to support them?
N. Chandrababu Naidu: India is very strong now, especially in areas like green energy – solar, storage, green hydrogen – and allied sectors such as agriculture, aquaculture and logistics. Investors are showing great interest.
Take Dubai: it is a hub for global markets and, by partnering with India through the UAE, we can supply to the global community. In Andhra Pradesh we are moving from ease of doing business to speed of doing business. For example, we gave a single‑window permit that clears all approvals. When Google LLC came to us about building a data‑centre, they asked about tax certainty. We worked with the central government to offer guarantees and clear the process within days. That is the spirit we bring: we execute and implement swiftly.

The Brew News: Your minister, Nara Lokesh, holds a unique portfolio including “Real‑Time Governance” in Andhra Pradesh. Could you explain this concept in more detail?
N. Chandrababu Naidu: The question is very interesting. We live in an era where artificial intelligence is a reality, and technology has matured. My government is building “one government – one citizen” data architecture, integrating family, location, welfare programme data. We are establishing “data lakes” of historical and real‑time information. Using satellite imagery and sensors, I can predict crop yields, soil health, micro‑nutrient deficiencies and plan interventions accordingly.
For example: a drone sprays precision pesticide based on sensor data; a farmer gets WhatsApp alerts; a patient books outpatient services online; government services are accessible to every citizen. This is what we mean by “real‑time governance” — responsive, data‑driven and inclusive.

The Brew News: The Telugu community is present globally, especially in the IT sector where they excel. How is your government planning to engage with the diaspora and leverage their skills and networks for the state’s development?
N. Chandrababu Naidu: Indeed, the Telugu community is global and very accomplished, especially in IT. From about 25 years ago I gave a message: “One IT professional in every family.” Because of that, many students took to technology, both locally and globally. I used to tell them: “Don’t just seek a job, become a job‑creator.”
Today I am very proud of what they are doing. Now we have launched “Non‑Resident Telugu Community” chapters everywhere and are training them to become entrepreneurs. We believe that very soon many of them will become influential entrepreneurs and contribute significantly to our state’s growth.

The Brew News: It is understood that one important purpose of your visit is to invite potential investors to the Global Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam this November. Could you tell us more about the significance of this summit?
N. Chandrababu Naidu: Yes. Over the past 15 months our government has secured nearly ₹10 lakh crore in investment intents. But we need to move these to logical conclusions. That is why we are organising the summit. We will bring together investors, policymakers, academics, industry bodies – everyone – to discuss how to advance sustainable development and adopt the latest technologies.
For example: we are creating a “Space City” in Andhra Pradesh – private satellites, drone innovation, quantum computing – and opening up its private sector participation. We are also transforming agriculture into value‑added agribusiness and aquaculture for global supply. These sectors will be major themes at the summit. Your participation can make a difference.

The Brew News: Your party, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), is a key ally in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). What is your view on the upcoming Bihar election and would you be campaigning for the NDA in Bihar election?
N. Chandrababu Naidu: I am fully confident that the NDA will win in Bihar. I am prepared to campaign in the state whenever I am requested by senior leadership. I believe strong governance and development agenda will carry the day in Bihar, as elsewhere.

The Brew News: Finally, what would you consider as your government’s biggest achievement in this first year of your current NDA‑led administration in Andhra Pradesh?
N. Chandrababu Naidu: In India many positive things are happening. Our Prime Minister’s leadership over the years has laid a strong path. In Andhra Pradesh, in just one year we have implemented all welfare programmes and ushered in new reforms. Recently, the introduction of the “super GST” has resulted in significant savings for consumers and MSMEs. Less taxation and more benefit – that is a win‑win.
On one side we focus on welfare; on the other development. That dual engine is working well. I don’t doubt that India will have a very bright future, and Andhra Pradesh will contribute strongly to that.