State Education, IT and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh met with Australia-India CEO Forum Director Jodi McKay in Sydney soon after his arrival in the country on a six-day visit. He said that Andhra Pradesh, which is a key investment destination, should be included in the Australia-India CEO Forum State Engagement Agenda. He appealed for support for the Australia-AP CEO Roundtable meeting jointly organized by APEDB, CII and Business Council of Australia.
He said that the uniqueness of our state should be conveyed to prominent Australian CEOs so that they can participate in major projects in Andhra Pradesh (energy, ports, logistics, digital sectors). He said that AP should be allowed to participate in the next CEO Forum session and priority sectors and projects ready for investment will be showcased in that session.
He said that the forum should provide an opportunity for joint reports on the topic “Investing in Andhra Pradesh – Gateway East Coast of India” in the trade and investment agenda. He requested for cooperation to enable Australian companies to participate in the Krishnapatnam, Visakhapatnam and Anantapur industrial clusters in AP.
Minister Lokesh invited him to attend the Partnership Summit – 2025 to be held in Visakhapatnam on November 14-15 along with the Forum leadership team. Speaking on the occasion, McKay said that the Forum was launched in 2012 under the leadership of the Prime Ministers of both countries to strengthen economic and strategic relations between Australia and India.
He said that top industrialists from both countries are participating in it. He said that they are focusing on trade, investment, education, skills and migration between the two countries. He said that they are supporting the $48.4 billion trade partnership between the two countries and providing policy support to increase bilateral cooperation. He said that they are working with CII to facilitate policy cooperation.
Lokesh, who arrived in Australia for a six-day visit, was given a grand welcome by Telugu people and TDP supporters at the Sydney airport. NRIs who came with their families welcomed Lokesh warmly, waving flags and chanting slogans. TDP cadres from Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne, New Zealand and Newcastle, led by TDP Australia President Vijay and Vice President Satish, arrived in Sydney.
