Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu wrapped up a high-profile five-day official visit to Singapore on July 30, marking a pivotal move to attract investments, restore investor confidence, and deepen diplomatic and economic ties with the island nation.
During the visit, he held 26 high-level meetings with global corporations, Singaporean government ministers, and financial institutions, outlining his vision for Andhra Pradesh as a premier destination for technology, infrastructure, and green energy.
On the second day of his trip, Mr Naidu met Dr Tan See Leng, Singapore’s Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry. In a candid interaction, he acknowledged the erosion of trust during the previous state administration and assured that his government was committed to transparency and investor protection.
“Our intention is not just to invite investments but to restore credibility,” said Mr Naidu. “Those who once believed in Andhra Pradesh deserve respect and fairness.”
Dr Tan welcomed the Andhra chief minister’s renewed approach, affirming that Singapore was “fully prepared to be a partner in the development of Andhra Pradesh and its capital city, Amaravati.”
He referenced the period between 2019 and 2024, during which several bilateral projects were derailed, and commended Mr Naidu’s efforts to resume collaboration.
A highlight of Mr Naidu’s visit was his tour of the Bidadari Housing Project, an eco-friendly urban estate home to over 10,000 families. He praised Singapore’s Housing Development Board and Urban Redevelopment Authority for their sustainable planning and expressed hope to implement similar models in Andhra Pradesh, especially in Amaravati.
“Amaravati will reflect world-class innovation and sustainability,” said Mr Naidu. He reiterated that the Singapore Government had provided the capital’s master plan and that collaboration with the World Bank remains crucial.
Mr Naidu also visited Jurong Petrochemical Island, where he noted key features like integrated safety systems, green energy practices, and industrial planning that could be adopted in Andhra Pradesh’s ports and industrial corridors.
Mr Naidu pitched Visakhapatnam as the future growth engine of Andhra Pradesh during a roundtable with representatives from 41 companies.
He highlighted data centres, AI research, real estate and aerospace as priority sectors and cited an MoU signed with Google for a data centre in Visakhapatnam. He also emphasised ongoing expansions by TCS and Cognizant.
In a meeting with Mr Lim Yong Wei of Keppel Corporation, Mr Naidu discussed partnerships in IT, commerce, and housing projects in Visakhapatnam and Amaravati. Further meetings with executives from GIC, SIA Engineering and AI Singapore covered topics including airport development, subsea cables, AI training centres and MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) services.
Dr See Leng reaffirmed Singapore’s long-term commitment to Andhra Pradesh. He mentioned that, while the original consortium involved in Amaravati’s development had pulled out in 2019, Singapore remains eager to provide technical expertise in urban planning, infrastructure, and governance.
Mr Naidu, in turn, extended an invitation to the Singapore Government to attend the Global Investors’ Summit in Visakhapatnam this November and expressed gratitude for the renewed support.
In a Facebook post, Dr Tan also cited agriculture, food processing, and renewable energy as promising areas for collaboration. Mr Naidu echoed these sentiments and said Andhra Pradesh was ready to offer a conducive investment environment with incentives for long-term projects.
The chief minister also met over 2,000 Telugu diaspora members at the One World International School Digital Campus in Singapore, where he highlighted the cultural and economic contributions of the 40,000-strong Telugu-origin population in the country.
Indian High Commissioner Shilpak Ambule confirmed that the suggestion would be taken up with the Singapore Government.
Mr Naidu announced plans to launch a Global Export-Import Cell for the three million-strong non-resident Telugu population worldwide, who currently remit over Rs30,000 crore ($443 million) annually to the state.
He also introduced his “P4” initiative — Public-Private-People Partnerships — where affluent individuals mentor underprivileged citizens.
Throughout the visit, Mr Naidu engaged with several major corporations and institutions including CapitaLand Investment (India), Temasek Holdings, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Surbana Jurong, Sembcorp, TVS Motors, Mandai Wildlife Group, and Adani Ports.
He proposed developing IT parks, digital hubs, and industrial corridors across Andhra Pradesh and invited partnerships in biodiversity parks and eco-tourism projects like Dolphin City in Visakhapatnam.
CapitaLand officials, with a strong portfolio in Hyderabad, expressed intent to expand into Amaravati and Tirupati. Mandai Wildlife Group showed interest in Andhra Pradesh’s eco-tourism projects modelled after Singapore’s Garden City.
In conclusion, Mr Naidu declared the visit a major step towards restoring Andhra Pradesh’s credibility on the global stage. “This trip has laid a strong foundation for long-term collaboration with Singapore and global investors,” he said.
He emphasised that partnerships rooted in mutual respect would help Andhra Pradesh and Singapore drive inclusive, sustainable development across sectors.
