Visakhapatnam: IT Minister Nara Lokesh mentioned that if the Opposition’s weapon is ‘goddali’ (axe), it is ‘Google’ for the NDA government, however, ‘both are not same’.
Highlighting how the Google Cloud AI Hub goes beyond a mere data centre marking a defining moment in AP’s growth trajectory at the groundbreaking ceremony of the hub at Tarluvada in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday, Lokesh stated that the project infuses a massive investment of nearly Rs.1.35 lakh crore into Andhra Pradesh, creating about 25,000 jobs in the construction phase itself and generating a holistic ecosystem supporting 2 lakh direct and indirect jobs. “This is not just a ceremonial launch, but the beginning of history in the making,” Lokesh emphasised.
The government aims to build a comprehensive ecosystem in Vizag, spanning manufacturing, IT, cyber security, cloud computing and mechanical systems. Discussions with Google are underway to develop this sort of integrated ecosystem with a roundtable meeting planned to focus on long-term collaboration, Lokesh informed.
Stating that ‘G’ in Vizag stands for Google, Lokesh said, the global giant has set up the largest FDI investment outside the US, despite a pause witnessed in the previous rule.
Giving a new definition to the popular acronym ‘Namo’, Lokesh said that it means ‘Na’idu-‘Mo’di and underlined how the double engine bullet sarkar is paving the way for massive investments in the state. “We saw how Cyberabad witnessed signs of growth under the leadership of Naidu, now we are seeing a similar growth trajectory in AP as well,” he stressed.
Even as the NDA government believes in sole capital city, Lokesh underlined how it equally gives preference to decentralised development across the regions – North Andhra, Rayalaseema and Konaseema. “After witnessing a destructive government in the past wherein industries vanished into the oblivion, the visionary leadership of Chandrababu Naidu with a proven track record, speed of doing business and double engine bullet train sarkar are the three primary reasons why the state has limped back to normalcy, retaining its glorious past steadily but surely,” the IT Minister reasoned.
Recalling a punch dialogue in a movie of power star and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, Lokesh said, “If the last punch is ours, there is a different kick to it (last punch manadaithe, vache kicke veru’. Despite attempts made to stall the Google project, the NDA government ultimately ensured its successful grounding. Those who attempted to block the initiative will now try to claim credit for it. But, anyone who wants to know who brought the project should run a search on Google and it will attribute credit to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.”
Referring to former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Lokesh said that the ‘CCD’ (credit-chori disorder) patient would sooner or later take credit for Google as well.
