IT Minister Lokesh Calls on Chartered Accountants to Drive Andhra Pradesh’s Growth

Swift summary

• Andhra Pradesh IT Minister nara Lokesh announced plans to achieve a $2.4 trillion knowledge-based economy by 2047.
• Speaking at the ICAI’s ‘Arthasamruddhi-2025’ conference in Visakhapatnam,he emphasized the role of Chartered Accountants (CAs) as contributors and guiding forces in this vision.
• Lokesh highlighted the State’s commitment to regional progress under the ‘One capital – Decentralisation of development’ motto.
• He introduced initiatives like ‘Manamitra,’ which delivers 700 citizen services via WhatsApp, and discussed incorporating AI into governance for better service delivery.
• Lokesh urged CAs to embrace AI audits, adopt Blockchain technology, focus on ESG reporting, and support startups, MSMEs, and global investors.
• Global companies like Google and TCS are increasing investments in Visakhapatnam due to investor-amiable policies.
• Construction of Bhogapuram International Airport is expected to be completed within one year, driving economic growth in surrounding districts.

Indian Opinion Analysis

Andhra Pradesh’s ambitious plan for a $2.4 trillion knowledge-based economy by 2047 reflects its long-term developmental vision aligned with technological advancements such as AI governance and Blockchain adoption. The State’s integration of contemporary tools through platforms like Manamitra showcases a progressive governance model that prioritizes both efficiency in service delivery and public engagement.

The highlighted decentralization initiative-‘One Capital – Decentralisation of development’-addresses regional disparities but will require sustained focus on infrastructure execution across all areas. Meanwhile,involving Chartered Accountants positions them as key drivers of economic policymaking while emphasizing ethical accountability. However, realizing thes goals depends heavily on aligning private sector participation with state-led initiatives-a promising step indicated by global firms setting up operations locally.

the timely completion of Bhogapuram International Airport could serve as a gateway for investment influxes into Andhra Pradesh’s northern regions, potentially catalyzing broader socio-economic impacts across industries including MSMEs and trade hubs.

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