Naidu proposes Israel Industrial Park and Dubai Food Cluster in A.P.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, during high-level meetings at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, has proposed the establishment of a dedicated Israel Industrial Park in Andhra Pradesh, positioning it as a strategic hub to attract Israeli companies in med-tech, aero-defence, clean-tech and advanced manufacturing.

Mr. Naidu held discussions with Nir Barkat, Israel’s Minister of Economy and Industry,  Roey Fisher, Trade Commissioner, and  Shir Slutzky, Head of the Israel Economic and Trade Mission to Switzerland. 

Mr. Naidu outlined Andhra Pradesh’s vision to anchor Israeli firms through a purpose-built industrial park that would promote local manufacturing, technology transfer and high-skilled employment, while strengthening India–Israel economic ties.

The discussions also covered collaboration in defence and aerospace ecosystems, UAV technologies, desalination and groundwater quality improvement, semiconductors, quantum technologies, medicine, education and cybersecurity.

As part of Andhra Pradesh’s technology-driven growth strategy, Mr. Naidu also met Calista Redmond, vice-president, Global AI Initiatives at NVIDIA. He discussed fast-tracking plans for India’s first AI University in Amaravati, for which an MoU has been signed.

The partnership focuses on AI skills for youth, start-up nurturing and ecosystem development. Possibilities of a NVIDIA Global Capability Centre, hardware manufacturing and collaboration with the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub were also explored.

Mr. Naidu also met Swiss State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda, Ambassador Andrea Rauber Saxer, Swiss MP Nik Gugger, and SECO Advisor Martina Bietenhader, seeking to deepen trade ties and attract Swiss investments to Andhra Pradesh.

The Chief Minister also held a high-level meeting with UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, seeking deeper economic ties and investments in key growth sectors of A.P.

Mr. Naidu proposed the establishment of a Dubai Food Cluster in Andhra Pradesh, aimed at strengthening food processing, agri-exports and value-chain integration. The discussions focused on opportunities in agritech, foodtech, aquatech, development of food parks and enhancing food security mechanisms.