Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Monday urged young innovators and technologists to prioritise the development of homegrown technologies, aiming to bolster India’s technological independence on the global stage.
Speaking as the chief guest at the 28th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) 2025 in Visakhapatnam, themed ‘Viksit Bharat: Civil Services and Digital Transformation’, Naidu remarked that although India boasts a thriving tech industry, it still relies heavily on foreign nations for manufacturing.
Underlining the importance of ‘Swadeshi’ innovation, he revealed that Andhra Pradesh is in the process of establishing a Quantum Valley in Amaravati, which is expected to be integrated into the global quantum ecosystem by January 2026. “Only six nations currently manufacture quantum computers. With backing from the Government of India and industry leaders like IBM, TCS, and L&T, we are laying the groundwork to produce quantum systems within two years,” Naidu said.
He also shared plans for several high-tech hubs, including a Space City near Sriharikota, a Drone City in Orvakal, an Electronics City, and a MedTech Park. These ventures, he noted, would open doors for graduates from premier institutions such as IITs and IIMs to contribute to cutting-edge advancements. “India leads in the usage of Artificial Intelligence. Our next challenge is to build indigenous capabilities rather than depend on external sources,” he added.
Naidu highlighted the State’s strides in digital governance, mentioning the launch of Mana Mitra—a WhatsApp-based platform offering 751 public services. He also introduced the Sanjeevani health initiative, which aims to digitise health records for all citizens and promote preventive care through the philosophy of food as medicine and kitchens as pharmacies.
Reflecting on his earlier tech-driven reforms like e-Seva and Mee-Seva, Naidu emphasised the role of technology in enhancing transparency and administrative efficiency. He said that real-time data from satellites, drones, CCTV, and sensors would be harnessed for informed governance. He also spotlighted entrepreneurship-focused programmes such as the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub and the ‘One Family-One Entrepreneur’ scheme, designed to empower MSMEs.
Naidu expressed optimism about India’s economic trajectory, predicting it will become the third-largest economy by 2028 and the global leader by 2047 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He welcomed the competitive spirit among states in adopting new technologies, calling it a positive force for national growth.
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh presented awards in six categories, including recognition for Gram Panchayats excelling in e-Governance. He thanked the Andhra Pradesh government for hosting the event and reflected on Visakhapatnam’s evolution over the past quarter-century, noting its leadership in sanitation and infrastructure, including the upcoming Bhogapuram Greenfield Airport.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Secretary K Vijayanand described the conference theme as both timely and visionary, aligning with the goals of Viksit Bharat and Swarna Andhra@2047. He showcased several state-led digital initiatives such as RTGS Lens, Data Lake Implementation, AWARE 2.0, AI-powered search tools, and chatbot services.
The conference concluded with the presentation of the National Awards for e-Governance 2025, honoring 19 projects across six categories. Officials confirmed that the Visakhapatnam Declaration, to be finalised at the end of the two-day event, will serve as a strategic blueprint for India’s future in digital governance.
