Minister Nara Lokesh Meets Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella

Seattle: Andhra Pradesh's Minister of Education, IT, and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, met with Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, at Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond. During this visit, Telugu employees at Microsoft took photos with Lokesh. Nadella, originally from Andhra Pradesh, has climbed the corporate ladder to lead Microsoft through his remarkable intellect. His father, B.N. Yugandhar, was an IAS officer in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, noted for his work in uplifting rural communities.

Nadella, who has significant expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cloud Computing, has been leading Microsoft as CEO since 2014, establishing it as a global leader in software, cloud computing, and enterprise technology. As of October 2024, Microsoft holds a market cap of $3.1 trillion, making it one of the world’s most valuable companies. Nadella highlighted that Microsoft generated revenue of $211.9 billion in FY 2023, driven by strong growth in cloud services and AI-driven solutions.

Supporting IT Hubs in Andhra Pradesh
Minister Lokesh emphasized how Hyderabad became an IT hub under the visionary leadership of former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. Now, in his fourth term, Naidu is devising strategies to position Andhra Pradesh as a leader in the tech industry. Lokesh explained the state’s plan to build new IT hubs and innovation parks across Andhra Pradesh, for which he requested Microsoft’s support to transform these hubs into world-class technology centers.

Lokesh also stated that Andhra Pradesh, with cloud infrastructure and data centers, has the potential to serve as a regional base for global companies. The state has policies favorable for such investments and the necessary land availability. He invited Microsoft to collaborate on establishing a state-of-the-art tech ecosystem powered by Microsoft’s expertise in cloud services.

Focus on IT Talent in Andhra Pradesh
Lokesh underscored that Andhra Pradesh has a strong educational foundation, producing skilled IT and engineering professionals, many of whom contribute globally. He urged Nadella to consider tapping into Andhra’s talent pool, highlighting the state's agricultural backbone and the potential for AI to transform agri-tech in Andhra Pradesh.

Lokesh proposed that Microsoft collaborate to develop productivity-enhancing agricultural practices leveraging AI. He added that Andhra Pradesh has streamlined approvals and pro-business policies to support fast-track project implementation and create a conducive environment for business and commerce with enhanced digital governance.

Developing Amaravati as an AI Capital
Lokesh discussed the government’s digital governance initiatives, seeking Microsoft’s assistance in establishing cloud-based platforms, advancing data analytics with AI, and enhancing cybersecurity. He shared Andhra Pradesh's goal to develop Amaravati as an AI capital and announced plans to set up an AI university in Amaravati.

He invited Nadella to visit Andhra Pradesh, inspect the infrastructure, and explore potential investment opportunities. Nadella assured his support, expressing a commitment to aiding Andhra Pradesh’s development in digital transformation and AI. The meeting included key government representatives such as Karthikeya Mishra and Saikant Verma.