Call for Google to Establish Chip Design Hub in Visakhapatnam

Quick Summary

• Andhra Pradesh Minister for Education, IT, and Electronics Nara Lokesh has urged google to set up a chip Designing Centre in Visakhapatnam.
• During his visit to Singapore on July 29, 2025, Lokesh met with Google Cloud Director Drew Brynes to discuss collaborations related to data infrastructure, AI training, and hardware advancement.
• The proposal aligns with Google’s ongoing efforts to shift manufacturing away from China and Taiwan.
• An MoU was signed on December 11, 2024 between andhra Pradesh Government and Google for establishing a Data City in Visakhapatnam; all infrastructure for the same is reportedly completed.
• Lokesh highlighted the strategic advantages of Andhra Pradesh in becoming a hub for server maintenance and repair services due to its strong air and port connectivity. He also emphasized AI adoption initiatives supported by another MoU with Google aimed at youth skilling programs across the State.
• Drew Brynes assured that Google’s leadership would review Lokesh’s proposals during internal discussions while reaffirming commitment toward existing projects in Andhra Pradesh.

Indian Opinion Analysis
Nara Lokesh’s pitch represents both strategic foresight by tapping into ongoing shifts in global manufacturing patterns and an ambitious vision for technological growth in Andhra Pradesh. Establishing a chip design centre not only complements Google’s expansion plans but also fosters innovation ecosystems within India-a step aligned with national objectives of self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat). Moreover, leveraging Visakhapatnam’s logistics advantages could make it an international data services hub if realized effectively.

However, prosperous execution depends heavily on concrete commitments from corporate stakeholders like Google and also sustained government-policy alignment ensuring ease of operations across infrastructure facilities proposed under the Data City concept. India’s broader ambition of increasing skilled human capital becomes particularly relevant here given parallel efforts at scaling up AI training programs for local youth-demonstrating long-term benefits beyond immediate investments.Read more: [Link provided above]