AP eyes global leadership in data centres, AI infrastructure: Lokesh

Andhra Pradesh is rapidly emerging as a one-stop destination for data centre infrastructure, IT, and Human Resource Development, with the State government focused on nurturing a complete industrial ecosystem rather than isolated facilities, said IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh on Wednesday.

The minister was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for Carrier Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Limited’s new manufacturing plant at Sri City in Tirupati district — the company’s maiden foray into South India.

Set to come up on a sprawling 39-acre plot, the plant will manufacture advanced chillers catering to the growing demand for energy-efficient cooling solutions. Officials noted that the facility will follow green manufacturing practices and is strategically positioned near multiple ports to boost exports and strengthen supply chains.

Operations are expected to commence by the end of 2027, with the plant projected to create nearly 3,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region.

Underlining the significance of such investments, Mr Lokesh said Andhra Pradesh is well on course to claim a place among global leaders in the data centre and Artificial Intelligence space. He emphasised that world-class data infrastructure demands far more than server halls — it requires high-efficiency chillers, power electronics, sophisticated cooling systems, and precision manufacturing, all underpinned by a robust industrial base.

“We are not building standalone data centres. We are building the entire ecosystem around them,” he said.