Vijayawada: On the third day of his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), chief minister Chandrababu Naidu met UAE minister of economy and tourism Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri in Dubai on Friday to discuss strengthening economic and technological collaboration between Andhra Pradesh and the UAE. Their talks focused on enhancing trade ties, promoting the knowledge economy, and advancing governance through artificial intelligence.The UAE minister highlighted Dubai Silicon Oasis’s efforts to foster innovation by funding startups and research institutions. Both leaders agreed to explore partnerships between the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub and Dubai Silicon Oasis to support AI-driven innovation and startup ecosystems.Naidu and Al Marri also discussed cooperation in food security, logistics, transportation, and infrastructure. The UAE minister proposed exchanging best practices in governance and public services through RTGS, while Naidu emphasized Andhra Pradesh’s investor-friendly environment in emerging sectors.As part of his final engagement in Dubai, Naidu addressed a Telugu diaspora meet attended by community members from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar. In an emotionally resonant speech, Naidu said the Telugu community had become “unstoppable” and was making a global impact, especially in the tech sector. “Thirty years ago, I promoted IT. Today, Telugu professionals lead global tech companies. Satya Nadella is a shining example,” he said.Naidu thanked the diaspora for their support during the 2024 elections and called them “partners in Andhra Pradesh’s transformation journey.” He highlighted the state’s digital governance model, noting that over 730 public services are now accessible via WhatsApp, positioning Andhra Pradesh as a leader in tech-enabled administration.He also announced that Google is setting up a Rs 1.24 lakh crore AI data centre in Visakhapatnam, marking a major milestone in the state’s innovation roadmap. “Abu Dhabi and Dubai have transitioned from oil-based economies to knowledge and tourism-driven growth. Andhra Pradesh is moving in the same direction,” Naidu said.
