P IT minister Nara Lokesh on Friday explained to the World Bank representatives, through a power point presentation, how the state planned to top the developmental parameters in the country by 2022 and come to the top position by 2029, while seeking their technological advice for the development of the state further.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu through his visionary policies and programmes was promoting the state rapidly so that it become a global hub for industry by 2050, Lokesh said and added as of now the growth rate was around 12 per cent which was set to improve soon to 15 per cent.
He said the government was laying a great emphasis on technology promotion in every sector and was relying on paperless governance and real-time governance. In agriculture, AP could attain a 24 per cent growth rate though the rainfall was less by 18 per cent, he said and added it was possible through the usage of Data Analytics and technology.
Similarly, the state could reduce the extent of cotton farming as it was not profitable this year, Lokesh said . He also met CISCO representatives to seek the opening of their office in AP. Their technology could help the Panchayat Raj initiatives, he added. In his meeting with the US-India Business Council members, he sought investments.
Noted among the companies represented were Walmart and HP. Lokesh received Business World Magazine’s the ‘Digital Leader of the Year’ too. The magazine in its statement said that the award has been conferred based on the minister’s commitment towards technology and its use for the developmental process in all the possible sectors.

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