Piyush Goyal backs Andhra’s investment pitch at CII curtain raiser; Naidu cites ₹22 lakh crore in agreements

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal speaks at the curtain raiser for the CII Partnership Summit 2026 in New Delhi on Thursday. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is seen. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said Andhra Pradesh had a rich maritime history that dated back to the reign of the Satavahanas, when goods used to be exported throughout the world. This was evident from the coins used by the Satavahanas that featured a ship symbol, which showcased the nation’s maritime trade. “Even today, AP remains the ‘care of’ address for traders and industrialists. The State has tremendous investment opportunities waiting to be explored,” he said, noting that AP was endowed with abundant natural resources and skilled manpower.Speaking as the chief guest at the curtain raiser for the CII Partnership Summit 2026 in New Delhi on Thursday (October 8, 2026), Mr. Goyal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government were extending necessary support for the development of AP. Projects such as the Google data centre in Visakhapatnam and the Quantum Computing Valley in Amaravati reflected the true potential of the State, he said.An absolute pleasure to address the curtain-raiser of the 31st CII Partnership Summit, to be held in Visakhapatnam on 12th-13th November, alongside Andhra Pradesh CM @NCBN Garu. Highlighted that Indian businesses today are more ambitious than ever. With India emerging as a preferred investment destination, a rapidly expanding economy and a growing network of FTAs under PM @NarendraModi ji's leadership, the opportunities before us are immense. Also emphasised CM N Chandrababu Naidu Garu's significant efforts towards driving growth and prosperity in Andhra Pradesh. When the Centre and State work together as TEAM INDIA, the people are the biggest beneficiaries. Building on the success of last year's summit, I invited global businesses, investors and innovators to partner with India and Andhra Pradesh and be part of our journey towards shared growth and mutual prosperity. 📹 https://t.co/jTcoWby06a— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) October 8, 2026He said the Centre and the States were working together for the development of the nation like “Team India”, and the BJP-led NDA government was operating on the principles of self-reliance (Atmanirbharata), self-confidence (Atma Vishwas) and self-defence (Atma Raksha).Mr. Goyal said AP’s focus on winning the trust of industrialists and securing investments was yielding impressive results and the State’s role was vital in India’s growth story. He expressed hope that AP would make the most of the CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam.VIDEO | Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal), speaking at the 31st CII Partnership Summit in New Delhi, praised the people of Andhra Pradesh for making a mark across the world through their expertise in their chosen professions. Goyal highlighted the global capabilities of people from Andhra Pradesh, particularly their strengths in numbers, science, technology and mathematics, which he described as being among the finest in the world. He extended his compliments to both the people of Andhra Pradesh and the state's leadership for promoting a simple message of trust, which, he said, builds partnerships and ultimately brings prosperity. (Source: Third Party) #Delhi— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 8, 2026Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the Centre and Mr. Modi were at the forefront of supporting AP, especially in the implementation of projects like Amaravati and Polavaram. He said agreements worth nearly ₹22 lakh crore had been mobilised in the last 28 months, including ₹13.50 lakh crore at the CII Partnership Summit 2025. Speed of Doing Business had been high on the government’s agenda and it was doing wonders for the State, he added. Published - October 08, 2026 04:38 pm IST