Andhra Pradesh IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh presents a memento to Singapore’s Commerce, Industry and Education Minister Gan Siow Huang in Singapore on Monday. X/JaiTDP | Photo credit: Special arrangement
IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh met Singapore Commodities Intelligence Center (CIC) Director General Gloria Wu and sought collaboration between the Andhra Pradesh government and CIC in the areas of business connectivity in seafood, agriculture, minerals and pharmaceuticals, MSME exports and commodity information exchange.
He attended a meeting of the Joint Implementation Working Committee (JIWC) formed by the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Singapore in Singapore on Monday (May 11, 2026) and asked for the launch of a “digital trade corridor” between Singapore and Visakhapatnam or Krishnapatnam seaport as a pilot project using the CIC blockchain and trade-free blockchain platform.
Pointing out that Andhra Pradesh is India’s largest aquaculture producer and accounts for 40% to 45% of the country’s chilli exports, Mr. Lokesh urged the revival of the Andhra Pradesh-China trade corridor to provide a new market for Guntur chillies.
Farmer producer organizations (FPOs) would handle procurement, grading and quality standardization, and CIC would assist in linking buyers and providing export financing.
Mr. Lokesh also said that the integrated district proposed in Amaravati, similar to Singapore’s Punggol district, will serve as a benchmark not only for urban areas in AP but also for the whole of India. He requested the acceleration of the project and the necessary support from the World Bank.
Minister of State for Education, IT and Electronics Nara Lokesh said the integrated township to be built in Amaravati will be a model district in India. For this, the necessary support from the World Bank and the completion of procedures should be expedited. pic.twitter.com/uWcH5cRPP6
— Telugu Desam Party (@JaiTDP) May 11, 2026
He said the Andhra Pradesh government expects support from Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry to develop the Amaravati Economic Region (AER) as per global standards.
Mr. Lokesh said the state government has already issued a request for proposal (RFP) for the Amaravati integrated township project. With the statutory support of the capital, efforts were renewed for its comprehensive development.
I arrived inside #Singapore this morning a warm welcome from the Telugu community here. It was heartening to hear them appreciating the “investment festival” unfolding #AndhraPradesh and a new energy around the state’s growth story. I asked our diaspora… pic.twitter.com/CsgGzk55Tf
— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) May 11, 2026
Suggesting that opportunities to boost trade between Southeast Asia and East Asia be explored, the minister said Andhra Pradesh aspired to become a global MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) destination.
To this end, the state government has planned to study Singapore’s Suntec City model and ensure a business-friendly environment for companies that have already invested in AP or want to enter AP.
VIDEO | Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh (@naralokesh) is working with the Telugu diaspora in Singapore during his visit.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7)
(Source: third party) pic.twitter.com/6kuyAETDNi
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 11, 2026
Mr Lokesh said six AP ministers recently attended a week-long training program under the Singapore-AP Governance Excellence (SAGE) initiative and their knowledge and experience will be used to improve services to citizens.
The governments of AP and Singapore signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in November 2025 to develop an integrated Amaravati township model, AER and digital transformation and real-time governance.
MICE policy
Later, Mr. Lokesh visited Suntec City in Singapore where he met Anandan Karunakaran, Director of DP Urban Architects. He said that Andhra Pradesh aims to become a leading world-class meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition (MICE) center and hence the new policy is being formulated.
Singapore’s Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Education Gan Siow Huang; Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) Senior Director Francis Chong; Singapore Cooperation Enterprise Deputy CEO Tay Lian Chew; Indian High Commissioner Shilpak Ambule; and senior IAS officers D. Surendra, Anantha Sankar, Peeyush Kumar and Katamaneni Bhaskar were present.
Published – 11 May 2026 13:38 IST
