Renewed national and global confidence in AP’s economic direction under current leadership

Murali Krishna Gannamani, is the Managing Director & CEO of Fluentgrid Limited, an exemplary software products and ICT solutions company. Since its establishment in 1998, Fluentgrid has excelled in the digital transformation landscape of power utilities and smart cities on a global scale, and Murali’s visionary leadership has been pivotal in this journey.

Fluentgrid’s Made in India products are implemented in 18 Indian states in the country and for clients in 15 countries overseas. Murali's exceptional foresight has attracted global recognition, with Fluentgrid’s innovative solutions being spotlighted in reputed reports, including those from Gartner and Guidehouse Insights. His entrepreneurial path reflects a relentless pursuit of excellence, earning him notable accolades.

Fluentgrid is a signatory to UN Global Compact, a global corporate sustainability initiative. Additionally, his role as the Chairman of CII Andhra Pradesh and as Charter member TiE (The IndUS Entrepreneurs) of Vizag chapter showcases his commitment to fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. Murali’s commitment to innovation and sustainability is further evidenced by Fluentgrid’s multiple awards, including ISGF Innovation Award 2022, NASSCOM Business Innovation Award and IBM Beacon Award for Best Industry Solutions.

In an exclusive interview to Bizz Buzz, he said the confidence-building measures initiated by the Andhra Pradesh Government with the support of the Central Government has led to an overwhelming response from investors from all over the globe to the 30th edition of CII Partnership Summit leading to signing of MoUs worth Rs13.25 lakh crore.

What factors do you attribute to the phenomenal response to the 30th edition of CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam on November 14 and 15?

The extraordinary response to this year’s Partnership Summit was a result of several converging factors, each reinforcing the other. First and foremost, there was a renewed sense of confidence—both nationally and internationally—towards Andhra Pradesh’s economic direction under the current leadership.

The Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s clear articulation of a development-led, investment-friendly agenda backed by Minister Nara Lokesh’s pro-active initiatives & persistent efforts to engage with Investor community, policymakers, thought leaders and influencers created a strong signal that AP is “open for business” once again. This sentiment resonated well with global investors who look for stability, clarity, and long-term vision.

Second, the timing of the summit played a crucial role. India’s economic momentum, combined with rising investor interest in new manufacturing destinations, green energy, digital infrastructure, and next-generation technologies, meant that AP was able to position itself as a state ready to plug into these opportunities.

The summit’s track record, brand value, and the significance of its 30th anniversary also added weight, drawing participation from top corporate leaders, diplomats, and industry bodies. Third, the collaborative effort between CII and the Government of AP was extremely strong this year.

There was a shared commitment to create a world-class experience—professionally curated sessions, diversified sector focus, high-level delegations, and seamless coordination between industry, academia, and government stakeholders. The experience was immersive, well structured, and aligned with global expectations.

Finally, the choice of Visakhapatnam as the host city brought its own advantages. As a city known for its hospitality, infrastructure, safety, and strategic importance, Vizag provided the perfect backdrop.

Delegates were not just attending a conference—they were experiencing a city that reflects the future the state aspires to build. That emotional and aspirational connection significantly amplified the event’s appeal.

It seems a lot of planning went in before hosting the high-profile event, including roadshows and curtain-raisers in global hubs. Was it part of the resolve to make it different?

Absolutely. The pre-event outreach was not only deliberate but strategic. The idea was to reposition Andhra Pradesh on the global investment map after a considerable gap and to convey that the state is once again ready to welcome capital, technology, partnerships, and talent. Roadshows in global financial hubs such as London, Dubai, and Singapore—and in major Indian metros—served multiple purposes.

The presence of Chief Minister and Minister Lokesh at these roadshows with large delegations consisting of a Group of Ministers, senior government officials, and Industry leaders further boosted the confidence of all the stakeholders.

They helped build early momentum and awareness; they allowed us to understand investor expectations and calibrate the summit’s agenda; and they opened direct channels of communication with global funds, technology companies, deeptech innovators, and sector-focused investors.

These interactions enabled us to shape a more meaningful and highly targeted engagement during the main event. Moreover, these pre-summit interactions helped demonstrate seriousness of intent.

Investors are far more likely to commit when they see that a State is consistently engaging, listening, and acting well before the formal event begins. In that sense, yes—these roadshows were part of the resolve to make this edition truly distinctive.

Can you elaborate on the reason behind finalising the theme and format of the sessions?

The theme was selected to reflect India’s current position in the global economic landscape, the evolving priorities of global investors, and the distinctive strengths of AP.

It was essential that the summit not be a generic gathering but a curated experience that addressed emerging global shifts—energy transition, digital transformation, supply chain realignments, sustainable development, AI-driven industry reinvention, and resilient infrastructure.

We finalised the theme after extensive consultations with CII National Council members, industry leaders, sectoral experts, and international partners.

The idea was to ensure each session addressed a real, evolving need—from green hydrogen to semiconductor readiness, from startup ecosystems to AI led innovation, new-age logistics and so on.

We also wanted to create multiple platforms within the summit: plenaries, parallel sectoral tracks, B2B meetings, government-to-business dialogues, and exhibitions showcasing innovation.

The format ensured that stakeholders, regardless of their sector or scale, had a space to engage meaningfully.

It created multiple touchpoints for decision-making—panel discussions, networking lounges, sector-specific roundtables, and direct interactions with senior officials—ensuring the Summit delivered tangible outcomes, not just conversations.

How was the experience at the AU Engineering College Grounds, the new venue for the summit?

The experience at the new venue was extremely positive. While previous editions were held at APIIC Harbour Park, shifting to the AU Engineering College Grounds allowed for greater flexibility and scale.

The infrastructure was purpose-designed to accommodate larger participation, more conference & exhibition space, and superior logistics for movement of delegates.

How do you feel about the revival of Partnership Summits in AP after nearly seven years?

It is extremely heartening. The summit is not just an event—it is a symbol of AP’s engagement with global economic thought leaders, innovators and investors. Its revival signals the state’s renewed ambition and readiness to re-enter the national and global investment arena with confidence.

After a seven-year gap, the return of the summit demonstrates that the government is serious about fostering economic development, building investor trust, and showcasing the state’s potential in sunrise sectors.

The enthusiasm and turnout clearly showed that investors were waiting for this revival. It marks the beginning of a new cycle of growth, partnership, and global integration for AP.

What do you suggest for achieving a better rate of grounding of investments from MoUs?

Grounding investments requires three things: speed, predictability, and accountability. The process must move from intent to execution with minimal friction. First, we need a dedicated mechanism that not only approve but actively track and assist.

Second, clear timelines and inter-departmental coordination are essential, especially for land allocation, utilities, and statutory clearances. Third, continuous engagement is critical; once MoUs are signed, frequent follow-ups ensure that bottlenecks are identified early and addressed promptly.

The objective should not only be to attract investments but to convert them into functioning projects with visible economic impact, especially on employment generation. The state is moving in this direction, and with strengthened systems, grounding rates can improve significantly.

Was there any feedback from previous summits that contributed to a better experience this year?

Yes. Over the years, one consistent feedback was the need for more structured B2B interactions and better integration between government officials and investors. This year, we ensured that sessions were tightly curated, meetings were pre-scheduled, and sectoral themes aligned with investor priorities.

We also elevated the experience with improved logistics, multilingual support, faster accreditation, and digitally enhanced meeting coordination. These adjustments came directly from past feedback and contributed significantly to the event’s success.

Your view on forming a Group of Ministers to monitor MoU implementation in real time?

This is an excellent and much-needed step. A high-level Group of Ministers brings authority, urgency, and coordination to the investment facilitation process. It signals seriousness to investors and ensures problems do not linger unresolved.

Real-time monitoring, supported by technology platforms and periodic reviews with CII, can transform AP into one of the fastest states in India for converting MoUs into operational units. Investors value predictability, and this move directly addresses that.

And there already exists a formal forum created through a Government Order - Joint Consultative Forum (JCF) set up between GoAP and CII, and the GoMs are appointed chaired by Minister Lokesh Nara.

There’s a sense that CII is being more deeply involved in bringing investors and facilitating engagement. Your comments?

CII’s role has always been to act as a bridge between industry and government, but yes—there is renewed momentum. This year’s summit demonstrated what coordinated industry engagement can achieve.

As a neutral, credible, and industry-led body, CII is uniquely positioned to attract investors, understand their requirements, and communicate them effectively to the government. This deeper partnership benefits everyone: investors, the state, and the broader economy.

Will the projects across renewable energy, deeptech, data centers, tourism, food processing, pharma, logistics, and the three economic corridors generate the projected employment, even with AI and modern technologies?

Yes, and here’s why. While AI and automation are becoming integral to many industries, they also create new job categories and expand the scale of operations.

Renewable energy, green hydrogen, data centers, tourism, and logistics are inherently large-scale job creators. Even deeptech and AI-led sectors generate high-value technical, managerial, research, operations, and support jobs.

Moreover, with three regional economic corridors—north, central, and south—the distribution of projects ensures inclusive employment opportunities across districts. This balanced geographic spread maximizes social and economic impact.

The Chief Minister announced that the next Partnership Summit will again be held in Visakhapatnam. What’s the next step?

The momentum must now translate into action. Over the next year, the focus will be on three fronts:

1. Implementation: Ensuring steady progress of MoUs signed this year so that next year’s summit showcases tangible success stories.

2. Deepening engagement: More outbound roadshows, sector-specific delegations, and high-level diplomatic outreach to bring newer partnerships.

3. Scaling the experience: Enhancing the quality, scale, and international participation even further, with a stronger focus on sunrise sectors and future technologies.

The next edition will build on this year’s success and further position Visakhapatnam as a premier global investment destination.