IT & HRD Minister Nara Lokesh addressing a meeting of the Indian diaspora in Seoul on Sunday.
IT & HRD Minister Nara Lokesh on Sunday called upon the Telugu community in South Korea to partner in the growth of Andhra Pradesh, assuring them of the government’s full support for investments in sectors of their choice.Addressing a gathering of the Indian diaspora in Seoul, Mr. Lokesh said Andhra Pradesh offered immense investment opportunities and that the government was committed to facilitating businesses with speed and transparency. The State would provide speedy approvals and transparent governance, he said, urging the diaspora to invest in Andhra Pradesh. The government was ready to work with those willing to create employment and contribute to the State’s overall development, he added.Mr. Lokesh described South Korea’s development journey as exemplary, saying the country had established a strong global presence through companies such as Samsung, Hyundai, LG and Kia. Its progress demonstrated that prosperity was driven not merely by natural resources but by hard work, innovation, a scientific outlook and determination, he said. South Korea’s success, he added, was a source of inspiration for Andhra Pradesh as it pursued the vision of becoming a progressive State in line with the Viksit Bharat vision.The Minister said the relationship between India and South Korea extended beyond trade and was rooted in shared democratic values, mutual trust, innovation and investment in youth. He noted that both countries had made significant strides in electronics, automobiles, semiconductors, shipbuilding, green energy, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence.Referring to Kia’s investment in Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Lokesh said its success should serve as a model for other global companies and reflected the State government’s commitment to delivering on its promises. Andhra Pradesh was ready to be South Korea’s most reliable partner in India in information technology, semiconductors, mobility, battery technology, green hydrogen, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. With its 3S model of Speed, Stability and Service, the State was committed to providing a conducive environment for investors, he said.Later, Mr. Lokesh met Indian Ambassador to South Korea, Gourangalal Das, and sought his support in attracting Korean electronics and semiconductor companies to Andhra Pradesh. He said the firms could establish units in ready-to-use industrial clusters at Sri City, Naidupeta, Kopparthy and Visakhapatnam.The Minister also requested the Ambassador to facilitate collaborations with Korean companies and institutions for skill development programmes in VLSI, ATMP (Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging)/semiconductor packaging, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and display technologies.Referring to South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s proposal during his visit to India earlier this year to establish a Korea Enclave, Mr. Lokesh said Andhra Pradesh was prepared to host a plug-and-play township at Sri City exclusively for Korean MSMEs. He urged the Ambassador to facilitate the relocation of Korea’s priority industries to the State.Mr. Lokesh also announced plans to establish a dedicated Andhra Pradesh-Korea Desk by integrating Korea Plus, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency and the India-Korea Industrial Cooperation Committees to facilitate closer industrial collaboration.Mr. Lokesh said the Telugu Desam Party had a strong foundation in Andhra Pradesh but also had a vision for the nation. Strong States build a strong India, he said, adding that lasting progress could be achieved only when regional aspirations and national development goals moved forward together. Published - July 05, 2026 07:21 pm IST
